Monrovia – As the presidential run-off election gears up in full swing, Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh, the former Superintendent of Nimba County, pledged her support to the reelection bid of President George Weah on Thursday, October 26, 2023. This comes a day after her brother Tiawon Gongloe gave his support to the Standard-bearer of the Unity Party, Joseph Boakai.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) – [email protected]
Addressing journalists in Monrovia, the former Nimba County Superintendent stated that her decision to support President Weah did not come overnight.
According to her, after consulting with her supporters, her husband, well-wishers, and elders of Nimba County, she has decided to support President Weah in the pending run-off election.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, Friends of Edith, and fellow citizens of our great country, after thorough consultations and assessments of the remaining candidates, we hereby declare our unreserved support for the re-election bid of President George Manneh Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change,” Madam Weh said.
She added: “As we prepare for that round of elections, we want to make a decision that keeps the country stable and does not veer off in the wrong direction yet again.”
“That is why this decision is critically important to us. We do not take it lightly, given our country’s troubling history of perpetual underdevelopment and civil conflict caused by bad political decisions and choices of leaders that we elect into power,” Madam Weh stressed.
According to the former Nimba County Superintendent, the pending election has consequences, something she said compelled her to make a public declaration of her choice.
“We critically looked at other prevailing variables before concluding that President Weah was a better choice in the pending election. We hope that President Weah and his team will take our endorsement as a challenge to govern well when re-elected for his second term bid,” she said.
She calls on her supporters who she says believe in her judgment to join her in supporting President Weah to victory and allow him (President Weah) to complete all of his development agenda under the Pro-Poor Agenda for Development.
Madam Weh adds: “We are resolved to robustly campaign throughout the length and breadth of our county and country to ensure President Weah’s success. We shall spread the CDC message of national reconciliation, reconstruction, and renewal in the second term of the President.”
“I Have Forces on the Ground”
Despite being a former Superintendent, Madam Weh had contested separate Senatorial elections and lost all. In 2014, she lost to Senator Prince Y. Johnson. Also, in the midterm Senatorial election in 2020, she was defeated by Senator Jeremiah Koung, the current Vice standard-bearer to Boakai.
In 2020, Madam Weh received 32.55 percent of the votes from Nimba County. She was beaten by her opponent Senator Koung by three percent.
When asked about her ability to make the CDC win Nimba County despite being rejected twice by the people of Nimba County, Madam Weh said her endorsement is significant because she has supporters in Nimba and across the country who look up to her for direction.
“The situation has never been that we have been rejected. Elections have consequences, and they had small twists and turns. What I can say to President Weah and members of the CDC is that we have forces on the ground that look up to us for the decisions we make in their interest. Indeed, this is a huge endorsement,” Madam said.
“My Brother Tiawon Will Respect My View”
Madam Weh’s brother, Tiawon Gongloe, and many thought that she was going to go through his path. Responding to a question, she said her family is a democratic one, and they both respect each other’s decisions.
Madam Weh added: “I come from a very democratic family. That means we respect each other’s views, and I know my brother will respect my view. I’m a political leader. I have been in politics much more than my brother.”
Advocating for Nimba People
Madam Weh could replace Senator Koung, who is the running mate to former Vice President Boakai, should the Unity Party win the run-off election.
Madam Gongloe maintains that she will not support the Unity Party ticket because she wants to replace Senator Koung. She added that she is not compelled to be a Senator before advocating for the people of Nimba County.
“Going to the Senate through any sort of means is not what I want. I told my people that my perpetual participation in running for Senate in Nimba County has not always been about getting positions,” she said.
Madam Weh added: “It is about advocating for the citizens of Nimba County to get their fair share of the national cake. So, it is not forced to do it through the Senate. As I said, my people do believe and trust my judgment, and I will fight on their behalf, and this is the route I chose.”