–Whapoe tells Nimbaians
By Lincoln G. Peters
Presidential hopeful Dr. Jeremiah Z. Whapoe says war crimes court will not help to put food on the table of his kinsmen in Nimba County.
“Some of your sons will say they want war crimes court, that is the song they are singing all over the place. I am not saying war crimes court is wrong, but I don’t think it will help put food on your table.
Over the past years, a lot of Nimbaians who are loyal to Senator Prince Yormie Johnson have shown a dislike for the advocacy for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court.
They have supported politicians who support Senator Johnson’s stance against the war crimes court.
Johnson has a notorious history of having participated in Liberia’s brutal civil war. A rebel group under his command is credited for painfully killing then-sitting Liberian president Samuel Kanyon Doe.
Whapoe, like former presidential contender, Senator Johnson, hails from the votes-rich Nimba County.
Whapoe’s argument that a war crimes court would not put food on Nimbaians’ table could be welcomed by Senator Johnson and his loyalists.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
For the pending elections, Nimba alone has two sons – Dr. Whapoe and Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe – seeking the nation’s highest seat.
Whapoe heads the opposition Vision for Liberia Transformation (VOLT) while Cllr. Gongloe heads the Liberian People Party (LPP).
Cllr. Gongloe, a renowned Liberian lawyer, is clear on the subject – he wants a war and economic crimes court for warlords to account for their atrocities.
Meanwhile, potential voters in vote-rich Nimba County have vowed that their country will produce Liberia’s next president at the polls in 2023.
In past elections, Nimba has supported Senator Johnson’s presidential bid overwhelmingly, but not enough to make him president.
Over the weekend, Dr. Whapoe announced his presidential bid in Gompa, Nimba County to contest the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
He told scores of residents in Nimba, particularly women, youths, and elders, that in 2017, he contested as president but didn’t win because of a few missteps and factors.
“The first thing I want to tell you before going forward is that this coming election in 2023, I, Jeremiah Z. Whapoe, a proud son of Nimba County, will be running for the president of Liberia,” he said.
“This public announcement has not been made anywhere or [in] any other County. This is my first time and I am telling you all because you are my … people,” Dr. Whapoe declared.
On Friday, 23 September 2022, Dr. Whapoe and his entourage arrived in Ganta for the declaration of his presidential bid.
The group was received and welcomed at the Nengehin Town junction, by the chair lady of Ganta Women, Madam Famatta Lombaye.
The delegation was escorted to the Concerned Ganta Women Hall, along with the Traditional Bush Master (Country Devil).
Dr. Whapoe said he went to tell his people first about his ambition to contest and to get their blessings and mandate because it’s necessary.
“The reason I came to Nimba first and chose the women to make this announcement is [that] they are my mothers and they can’t deny pregnancy. Therefore, they can’t deny their … son,” he said.
He urged the women and Nimbaians to be wise because, on this journey, many will be coming and will say the same things that he has said.
But he urged the women to make their judgment. “Many [have] promised to give you business because they are business [people], but they have not done that, neither are they having businesses in Liberia,” he said. –Edited by Winston W. Parley
