Monrovia – Presidential hopeful, Dr. Jeremiah Z. Whapoe is expected to arrive in Liberia Saturday, December 17, 2016 following a tour of the United States and the West African sub-region.
Dr. Whapoe is political leader of the Vision for Liberia Transformation (Vote).
He is currently in Nigeria holding discussions with political leaders of that West African country on Liberia’s future.
Among individuals Dr. Whapoe had discussion with was former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Although the full details of the meeting with the former Nigeria head of state was not disclosed, part of it centered on the conduct of the 2017 elections amidst UNMIL withdrawal.
There are doubts over the conduct of violent- free elections in the absence of UNMIL.
Dr. Whapoe also had the opportunity to address members of Nigeria Bar Association and host of other Nigerian politicians.
During the interactive forum with the Nigerian lawyers, Dr. Whapoe presented himself as the suitable contender for Liberia’s presidency.
He explained that he was better placed to replace President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s whose mandate expires next year.
Prior to stopping over to Nigeria, Dr. Whapoe visited and held discussions with leaders of several West African countries including Ghana.
In an interview with journalists following one of his discussions, Dr. Whapoe urged civic groups in Liberia to ensure that the National Elections Commission (NEC) make presidential debate a requirement for those seeking the presidency.
“As a lay man will say, it is not good to buy pig in bag. When someone applies for position, he or she can sit for an interview or multiple interviews before he or she is hired for the job,” he said.
Dr. Whapoe argued that the interviews for the presidency are the debates that every interested Liberians across the nation will have the opportunity to hear their potential leaders’ plans and how to achieve those plans for their country.
“I am in the 2017 race and ready to debate with any other presidential aspirant. I am the most qualified candidate, I want for Liberia to interview me for this job,” he emphasized.