Monrovia – Liberia’s political trend is unique with the introduction of multiparty democracy where individuals have equal rights to vow for positions that suit their qualifications, be it educated or not.
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The political leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment, Dr. J. Mills Jones, believes tribal attachment may lead to a third term bid for the ruling establishment, if Liberians do not think wisely.
Dr. Jones wants Liberians to use the recent American election as an example to discourage a third leadership.
He cautioned Liberians not to vote on tribalism or ethnicity but on a basis that would improve the county’s economy.
“Only if Liberian can vote individuals wisely and not on tribal basis, this country will surely move forward. We need to put the interest the country first,” Dr. Jones told a gathering in Bong County over the weekend.
It is clear that tribal politics plays a significant role in the country’s recent political activities with inhabitants of some counties giving their support to their kinsmen; but debate against a third term bid remains a major concern amongst Liberian.
Nimba, Liberia’s populated county; Grand Bassa and Lofa are three of the counties that have rendered support to candidates who have tribal attachments with them, an evidence of which was shown in the 2011 general and presidential elections where majority of the Bassa ethnic group supported Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine while Nimba County voted in majority for Prince Y. Johnson, thus enabling him to come up in the third place and more people from Lofa favored the Unity Party as a result of Joseph N. Boakai’s linkage to that county.
Same is popping up ahead of the 2017 general and presidential elections with the debate linking presidential aspirants to counties of their origin.
In Bong County for instance, there is a serious debate of producing a vice presidential candidate with some names like Jeremiah Slunteh, Dr. Henrique Tokpah and Frankline Siakor on the spotlight while the likes of Harrison Karnwea and Martornakay Tingba have surfaced in Nimba with former President Pro-Tempore Gbesongar M. Finley being named from Grand Bassa County for the ruling Unity Party.
Politicians believed the likes of Vice President Joseph Boakai being linked to Lofa County does not only intend to rap his kinsmen but intended to buy a third term bid for the ruling Unity Party.
According to him, an attempt to vote the ruling establishment for a third term would not be healthy for the country.
Dr. Jones noted that the Trump’s legacy was a clear manifestation of ending a third term leadership in America which, according to him, Liberia should follow.
“If Liberians do away with tribalism and ethnicity and follow Trump Legacy, it will break the barrier of continuation in Liberia,” Jones intoned.
The Movement for Economic Empowerment Political leader stressed the need for banks operating in Liberia to provide loans for citizens on an amicable interest rate.
He said he is highly considering improving businesses and the livelihood of Liberians through micro-loan, if the country resists tribalism in electoral process and take him as the next head of state.
“We intend to allocate enough funds to various banks so that they can provide loans. We began similar move during our administration at the Central Bank of Liberia,” Jones said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jones noted that only a vibrant economy can improve the lives of Liberians, but this can be achieved if citizens vote a right person to the Liberian presidency.