Gbarnga, Bong County – The former executive director of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), Edward Gboe, said he is saddened by the level of tribal politics that is being preached by Liberians, and promised he’s prepared to resist tribalism in the upcoming elections.
Gboe made the statement Saturday when he announced his membership with the opposition Liberty Party.
Gboe, who is aspiring as representative of electoral district three in Bong, said he has begun touring the nooks and crannies of the county.
Making specific reference to Bong, Gboe said he is joining the Liberty Party to go down in history as one of those in Bong who denounced sectionalism.
“It’s time to reject those who are coming to you with the “congau” and native politics in this day and age.
It is so sad. Liberia needs a President who will unite everyone irrespective of which county you come from. Say no to “congau” and native politics.”
Gboe’s statement was punctuated by chants of “no to native politics” and “Liberia needs a true reconciler”.
The former YMCA executive said he would campaign on the agenda of party.
“To ensure Liberty Party wins, I will sell the platform of the party everywhere to ensure that our people understand what the party intends to do for the ordinary people, ” Gboe told the cheerful crowd.
Bong doesn’t belong to UP-Gboe
Gboe then dismissed insinuations being proffered some lawmakers of the county that “citizens of Bong had endorsed the candidacy of vice President and standard bearer of the Unity Party Joseph Boakai”.
He said it was totally unthinkable that a county of over 200,000 registered voters would unite for a single Presidential aspirant.
Gboe described such insinuations a political joke intended to distract the opposition.
Describing Cllr. Charles Brumskine, the party’s political leader, Gboe told his supporters that Brumskine is a man to bank your trust in, urging his followers to support the Brumskine-Karnwea for the betterment of Liberia.
Speaking, the physically elated Brumskine described Gboe as a person with an indelible character who has brought dignity to the party.
He said the turnout Saturday demonstrates the love the people of Jorquelleh district three has for Gboe. “From the entry of Gbarnga to the County field – venue of the program – what I saw speaks volume and shows to me that you are a major political scoop in Bong,” Cllr. Brumskine said.
Taking a page from Gboe’s speech, Cllr. Brumskine urged the crowd to rise up against those propagating tribal politics by punishing them by not voting for them in October.
Liberty Party Goes to Convention
Liberty Party will beginning June 8 convene its delegates convention in Ganta, Nimba County to elect its standard bearer and other party officials.
The party’s chairman, Benjamin Sanvee, noted in a press release issued by the party over the weekend that the convention would be held under the theme: “A New Era of Change”.
He said that the event will attract delegates from all the fifteen counties of Liberia, noting that that the delegates will arrive in Ganta on Thursday, June 8th, 2017 to partake in the historic program.
“Our country is currently at a critical juncture and we strongly believed that no opposition political party is more prepared to succeed the Unity Party (UP) than the LP. We come to the table with years of experience, leadership and courage to reconcile our people and develop this nation,” he said.
The LP Chairman also disclosed that Atty. Kanio Bai Gbala, an astute member of the LP will deliver the Keynote address at the convention.
In addition, Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine, the Standard Bearer of the LP will visit the Muslim community in Sannequille, Nimba County to speak to them on the party’s core platform of ‘reconciliation, justice, national growth and the rule of law.’
“We will also adopt the slate of Legislative candidates at the convention too,” Chairman Sanvee said.
The LP Chairman also encouraged all partisans and sympathizers of the party to gather in Ganta stressing that the event which is expected to end on Saturday would be blissful attracting people from all the fifteen political divisions of our country. He noted that delegates will depart for Monrovia and other respective counties on Sunday.