Monrovia – Very few have given Bernard Benson aka DJ Blue a shot at filling the void left by football legend-turned president George Manneh Weah. While perceptions about his day job could be an issue for some, the popular Disc Jockey and head of Hot FM 107.9 is looking to surprise a lot of people when Senatorial by-elections are over later this year.
Report by Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
Benson says his candidacy is more than meets the eye. ‘‘I have always held the view that we do not need the same old politicians and their failed attempts to salvage our perennial problems of misrepresentation and economic waste,’’ he says.
Campaigning commenced last week for the pending Senatorial by-elections in Bong and Montserrado counties respectively and is expected to run through midnight, July 19.
A Joint Resolution from both Houses of the Legislature set up a new date for the elections at July 31.
Originally scheduled for March 12, 2018, the elections were forced to be put off after the CDC-led government declared that spending US$3.9 million as requested for by the NEC was unnecessary for by-elections.
After several weeks of blame-trading between the National Elections Commission and the Ministry of Finance, NEC announced recently that the government had finally made an allotment of US$690,526, bringing the government’s contribution to US$2,200,464.
At least 12 candidates have been qualified in both counties to contest.
The race in Bong County will feature Josiah Marvin Cole, Fairnoh Theo Gbilah, Prince Togar Kollie, Henrinque Flomo Tokpa and Orando Koimene Zarwolo.
In the Montserrado County race, Bernard Benson is going up against Josephine George Francis, Saah Hardy Joseph, Finley Y. Karngar, Mark Augustine Keshen, Yekeh Yarkpaworlue Kolubah and Michael Doe Tipayson.
Despite the strong field in the Montserrado race, Benson believes that new voices are needed to help change the tide in the upper house. ‘‘Our county deserves an innovative leader who will not only be a bench warmer in the legislature but a forceful voice with the requisite innovative skills to lift our people out if poverty.’’
While many had earlier given a lock to the ruling party’s candidate, Representative Joseph to emerge as the winner of the Montserrado race, a rough start for the ruling party brought on by an ever increasing foreign exchange rate and a crippling economy, appears to have made the race wide open and this is where Benson is hoping to take advantage. ‘‘Each time we have an election, a blank opportunity is extended us to define the terms of our future. It’s within our realms to choose to elect someone with a demonstrated record of innovation and farsightedness or to elect someone who is currently serving in the same branch of government. I think the stakes are high and we must demonstrate at the polls that our national priorities far outweigh our personal or party’s interests. It’s clear that a win for someone who already has an elected position will be a defeat to the President’s pro-poor agenda. I have the best and surest chances of winning this election, any day.’’
Benson says he has no fears about perceptions that Rep. Joseph’s has the race locked to win. ‘‘This election is not about the ruling party. It’s about answering to the people’s call for a robust and innovative leadership. It is about saving our state from economic waste. It’s about setting our national development agenda right and straight. With my fullest trust in God, I am the next senator of this great county.’’
After a recent weekday of campaigning, Benson was asked who he felt was his strongest opponent, his response was typical of a candidate with exhuberating confidence. ‘‘Honestly, there is no candidate in this race who is a threat to my victory on July 31st. This campaign is about giving our citizens an opportunity to benefit on a greater scale from my innovation, advocacy and ability to lobby for the public good.’’
Looking to avoid the trappings of the conventional politicians, Benson is hoping that voters embrace what he describes as his style of politicking which doesn’t call for making fabulous promises and inflated goodwill messages but rather built on commitments which he expects voters to hold him to. ‘‘With God and the support of the people of Montserrado County, I will deliver on my commitments. My commitment to the people of Montserrado county is that they are going to have a people-centered Senator who is an ardent believer in the bottom-to-top approach style of leadership.’‘
If given the chance by voters, Benson is looking to leverage his position to provide increased opportunities for our people to benefit from legislation. ‘‘One of the untapped areas our country could boom economically and infrastructurally is the Tourism sector. Tourism is a multidimensional job-creating sector. Our rich history coupled with our cultural diversities and biodiversity could bring us millions both in jobs and investments. Secondly, our economy is in shambles. I believe strongly that if we can strengthen Liberian businesses through legislation, we can empower more of our citizens. One of such legislation I would push and lobby for is the Liberian business’ bill proffered by Hon. J. Fonati Koffa of Grand Kru County. That bill needs a serious push at the level of the House of Senate. I have several bills that I myself have authored which affects health, the communications Sector, the Creative Industry, the labor sector, the agricultural sector and the transport sector.’‘
For skeptics still unsure about his ability to deliver and dwelling on his life as a disc jockey, Benson says many will be surprised. ‘‘Do not judge a book by its cover. You cannot fully tell the strength or ability of a person by merely looking at him. I have a strong communications background. For the past two decades, I have been in events management, communications, and tourism. I made history in this country by opening the first 24 hours radio and television station Hott FM and Hott TV long before I thought about politics. I have trained several thousands of Liberians in broadcasting and communications. I have organized and managed events for all of the big telecommunications companies in this country. My works are visible to the blind and audible even to the deaf, so to speak. I come to this race with a solid, well-rounded two decades of dedication, sacrifice and nationalistic service to this country, not one of eye service or false philanthropy. Just imagine if I was putting my picture on everything I have done, there could be no space available because I cut across everything.’‘
Benson says he is an aggressive entrepreneur with several business holdings. ‘‘With my meager resources, I have opened three radio stations of my own, a television station, a recording label, an event management consultancy and many more in the making,’’ Benson says his aggressive campaign style will put many of his doubters to shame. ‘‘I have always believed in God and the gift he gave me to withstand challenges. Talking about obstacles, I think my only obstacle will be embracing the news of my victory the next morning after elections. I view every candidate in this race as co-equals. I know they are campaigning very hard, but in the end, the people’s mandate will be given to me, that’s a simple truth.’‘