-Former Nigerian President encourages
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The former Nigeria President and head of the West Africa Elder Forum Elections Observation to Liberia, Goodluck EbeleAzikiwe Jonathan, has urged political actors and all Liberian to keep the peace and security of Liberia in tight.
“We urged the people of Liberia especially the key holders to remain peaceful during this period that they are collecting and announcing preliminary results. Even after they have announced the results, we emphasize that we must get a country before you can get any office. Whether you want to be a member of the house of Senate, representative or governor. And so, Liberia must remain in tight. And Liberia belongs to all not one individual”
The former Nigerian President further warned political parties and individuals against taking laws in their hands during and after elections period. He says- “Economic Community of West African States and African Union will not accept lawlessness.”
In a brief remark during the preliminary report of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, over the weekend, Mr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan strongly warned political parties and individuals of taking laws in their hands and encouraged them to ensure that the court is used to address their plights.
According to him, Liberians, especially political parties and actors must ensure that the peace of Liberia is maintain by all and every political actors and parties.
He pointed out that People from Liberia know that everybody is watching them therefore, all stakeholders must take step to maintain the peace and don’t go against the law of the land.
“Why we agree that there are legal process to follow. We don’t want people to take law into their hands. ECOWAS and AU will not accept and the entire world because the entire world is here and we are watching,” Mr. Jonathan stated.
The head of the West Africa Elder Forum Mr. Jonathan has urged political parties and individuals to ensure that Liberian remains in tights.
Mr. Goodluck Jonathan who is currently in Liberia to observe the Liberian elections, appealed with political parties and actors to remain peaceful as the National Elections Commission (NEC) announced preliminary results.
The former Nigerian President informed Liberians that there are huge presence of international observes in the country, adding that he extolled them for their presence and impact.
He added that it’s the first of its kind for him to see such an influx of international observes and so it speaks to the fact that they take the Liberian elections seriously.
“I command the NEC for the registration process. I also, want to command the NEC for being in the position for conducting their first election after the UN team has gone out. We were all worry but what we have observed that means they are competent to conduct further elections in Liberia with technical assistance from international body.
“Let me be very sincere on behalf of the West African Elder Forum and congratulate the people of Liberia for this fortunate elections as challenge. We have seen that democracy is really consolidating in the country. The Frontline on voters on elections day was very encouraging.
He added that for the elections turnout to be around 85%, it demonstrates that the voters registration was credible.
“But, there are some countries’ voters registered were they had ghost voters and when the security is tight, ghost voters don’t vote, and the turnout terms to be low and they will say appetite but it’s not appetite of the electorate but the quality of the process.
He notes that it’s the responsibility of the West Africa Elder Forum to facilitate and help conduct peaceful elections and they are excited to command everyone.
