By Lincoln G. Peters
A political group in support of the re-election bid of President George Manneh Weah under the banner “Nimba for Weah” (NFW) on Monday, 15 May 2023 opened several feeder roads in Tianplay Township, Nimba County.
The pavement of the feeder roads is intended to provide relief to the residents of the township, giving them safe and proper transportation during the rainy season.
The opening of the road led to a crescendo of citizens from Tianplay Township in Nimba County gathering under an emotional cloud to chant songs of praise to President Weah for the developmental initiative towards the township and Nimba as a county.
There was a subsequent groundbreaking for a memorial hall and monument for citizens of the township who were massacred during civil unrest. The ceremony was graced with excitement and joy.
The locals were heard chanting “Curse is broken.” The people of Tianplay pledged their support to President Weah’s re-election bid.
They vowed to vote for President Weah because he has broken what they described as the “curse of development, [and] backwardness” that the township had long experienced.
The citizens extolled President Weah and his government for bringing development to the township.
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Speaking, the group’s chairperson Mr. Shedrack Thomas Dokie revealed that the road project is an initiative of the president’s Pro-poor Agenda. He said it is intended to ensure that every part of the country is connected, irrespective of whatever negative historical impact.
Mr. Dokie stated that the road, when paved, will boost the economy and social activities of the township by creating easy access to and out of the township.
In furtherance, Mr. Dokie explained that the erection of a memorial hall and a monument in the town is to memorialize citizens who lost their lives during a massacre carried out by current Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson.
Giving an emotional address, Joe Luanupea stated that the development initiative of President Weah is a complete sign that portrayed that the curse over the township is broken and every hindrance that held them back is broken.
“Today, we say the curse is broken and the “Kwi Sa-Pea” is destroyed by the almighty God through the intervention of President George Weah.”
He claimed that the road pavement and the construction of a memorial hall and monument in the township marked the end of persistent forgetfulness and disregard of the town since the end of the civil unrest.
“Today marks the end of days of forgetfulness and [disregard] for us since the senseless brutal civil war.”
It is recorded that the township of Tianplay is a rural settlement in Nimba County located along the Ivory Coast – Liberia border, consisting of Yao Nanla, Bao-Yao, and Yao Diaplay.
Due to its remoteness and rural location, it was one of the entry points for rebels to enter during the civil unrest that started in 1980.
Because of the negative history of civil unrest, it is believed that the previous government allegedly forgot the people of the township.
