Monrovia – Ahead of the 2020 Senatorial Election, a group of Marylanders in Montserrado County under the banner: “Marylanders United to Support Eric Wlea” has endorsed the Senatorial bid of former Representative aspirant Eric Wlea Giko.
Giko was endorsed to contest the upcoming 2020 Senatorial Election in Maryland County.
Giko is expected to contest on the ticket of the Alternative National Congress (ANC).
The endorsement ceremony of the Senatorial hopeful took place on Thursday, October 24, in Monrovia.
Speaking at the endorsement program, the Chairman of the Marylanders United to Support Giko, Albert C. Wah, said over the years Maryland County has not been able to produce a leader in the interest of the county.
“We have not had the opportunity to produce a son who will be in the interest of us, the Marylanders. Today, our gathering here is to inform all Marylanders that we, Marylanders from Montserrado County with voting rights in Maryland County, have reached a decision to support a candidate who has interests in Maryland County,” Chairman Wah said.
Wah described aspirant Giko as a ‘true son of the soil,’ who has interest in the development and welfare of the people of Maryland County.
Wah added that over the years, Marylanders have voted into office political leaders who have failed to govern the county.
“Maryland County has gone through elections and voted politicians, who claimed to be Marylanders. They have kept us in problems. Today, in some counties, some senators, some representatives have done very important works when it comes to development in their counties. Unlike Maryland County, we have not had the opportunity to produce a son, who is in the interest of the Marylanders.”
Wah continues: “Upon this note, the time has arrived when the people of Maryland County are to be delivered from political, social and educational stagnation from the hands of greedy and self-centered politicians parading the corridors of our county as our saviors.”
He added that the senatorial aspirant has lobbied for projects that have positively affected the lives of Marylanders, to include a US$40,000 project currently been implemented in the county.
“We petition you; we endorse you as the next Senator of Maryland County. This endorsement will have no regret for Marylanders. This endorsement will bring light to Maryland County. We are tired of repeating one face or two faces in our political corridors. It is time for Marylanders to make critical decisions.”
Wah added, “Hon. Giko, we want you to contest the election come 2020. Our support is with you until you get to the Senate. Even at the level of the Senate, our support will be with you because we know you believe in consultation, you believe in the people, you believe in good deliverables.”
Accepting the endorsement, Eric Wlea Giko said it is about time that Marylanders correct their past mistakes in previous elections.
“For too long Maryland County has elected people, who have not done well. So it is about time that we correct the wrong. This is a nine-year correction that we are going to undertake. If we make the same mistakes, we will live with the consequences for nine years.”
Giko adds: “This race is not about me, it’s about you. Maryland County has elected people in the past who did not represent its interests, and so we have to correct those wrongs before going forward.”
Giko said his platform is built on four pillars, healthcare, agriculture, education and food security.
He added that as a professional nurse working in the United States, he intends to help revamp the health sector through his connection to provide basic healthcare services and supplies.
“What have we done in the health sector? We brought lots of relief to Maryland County through medical supplies. Most recently, I brought mattresses for the J.J Dossen Hospital and as I speak to you now, there are mattresses in the county that I will be distributing to other health facilities outside the upper city,” Giko added.
The senatorial hopeful said he intends to empower young people through scholarships, vocational skills among others.
“Not everyone that graduates from high school wants to go to college, some people want to learn skills that they want to use. So, I am pushing that we can set up a vocational school in Pleebo that will train people and give them skills that they can use,” he noted.
For Agriculture, Giko said he will help empower local farmers to grow more food in the county, stating “I have already started distributing seeds and providing tools for farmers to grow what we eat.”