Incumbent President George Weah says he is standing for reelection as widely expected to complete his unfinished projects.
Addressing thousands of supporters here on Saturday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia, Mr. Weah said Liberia has made tremendous progress under his leadership over the last five years, an agenda he wishes to continue over the next six years.
Mr. Weah explained that his Pro-Poor agenda has taken many bold initiatives to bring about the transformative changes that Liberia needs to grow and prosper.
He spoke after his party coronated him at a symbolic ceremony to run for reelection in October.
Weah, 56, was elected Liberia’s 24th President in 2017 following a run-off election with former vice President Joseph N. Boakai, now one of his main challengers in the pending 2023 elections.
“It is out of duty to our country and trust you reposed in me, the ideals that we all share that I have the honor to accept to be invested as the presidential candidate of the CDC, Weah said to a jeering crowd of supporters adding “I will be on the ballot.”
He said he was doing so with a deep sense of humility as his second shot at the presidency will provide him the opportunity to continue and finish his imperative agenda.
Although he did not list his achievements, Weah said some of the initiatives he took during the last five years represented new strategic approaches to development, while some were tried and tested formulas for nation-building.
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He explained that those strategies were all designed to work together to lift Liberia and Liberians to a higher standard of living.
Mr. Weah remained overwhelmingly confident and is certain of a re-election, saying he has done much for the people in short term and the people are satisfied with his leadership.
However, President Weah’s claims to have put in place new strategic approaches to development particularly his Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) has been widely criticized here among the population. Many claimed that the agenda is aimed at making people poorer while he and his allies get richer.
But as if those criticisms were not enough, President appreciated his supporters for sticking with him. “Yor stuck with me. Yor stuck with me. And we won! We won!! And we will win again!! They keep accusing you that because yor are behind me, yor don’t know nathing.”
He also threw jibes at his rivals using a local vibe saying “Call me Prezzo, they can’t help it. That’s why they just talking. But they forget to know that even if they double their socks, they can’t fit in my shoes. I don’t know for them, but we cool. I don’t know about them, but we cool. Even if they double their socks, they can’t fit in my shoes.”
However, Mr. Weah, acknowledged leadership challenges have been enormous, but noted that in each and every challenge, he has seen opportunities to make things better as captured in their national development plan, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
Announcing his nomination earlier, party chairman Mulbah K. Morlu said they are overwhelmed by the developmental contributions and leadership expertise of President Weah. He explained that is while they have resolved to allow him to stand for the second term to complete his developmental goals for Liberia.
Chairman Morlu said President Weah is transforming the state in the rightful way and therefore deserves a second term to complete his quest for Liberia.
Meanwhile, an emerging photograph of heavily armed officers of the Executive Protection Service (EPS) has raised eyebrows here amidst fears that such move is a recipe for chaos and threat to democracy.
