The Nimba Council of Elders (NCE) has affirmed its unflinching support to the democratic process of the country that facilitated the return to power of former governing Unity Party, led by Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The elders said they trust that the incoming regime will have a distinguished leadership by promoting peace, assembling a government of national unity, irrespective of political party affiliation, and protecting the country’s natural resources.
They called for a reform in the security sector, particularly the police and immigration services, by adhering to the rule of law, noting that no man or woman is below the law; and that no woman or man is above the law, stating that all Liberians are equal before the law.
Elder Wilfred Sei Boayue, Chairman of the Council, who read the 7-page statement, told the media this week in Monrovia that national reconciliation, unification, integration, and fostering of social cohesion in the local communities nationwide, providing equal access to social and economic opportunities, and human wellbeing to all Liberians, regardless of their ethnicity, are cardinal.
Elders who signed the statement were Wilfred Sei Boayue, Chairman; Harry T. Yuan, Co-chairman, and David Kialain, Secretary General. Others were Yarsuo Weh-Dorliae, Kabineh M. Ja’neh, Christiana Dagadu, Harrison Karnwea, and Zaiye B. Dehkee as members.
They believe that the regime must promote national unity, irrespective of political or party affiliations, and that it should be based on merit, integrity, education, professional training, and experience.
They said the incoming administration must be the representative of the best of all ethnic groups and political sub-divisions, to build Liberia through decentralized, inclusive, participatory, and accountable governance, consistent with the expectations of the people and the international community.
On natural resources, the elders believed that non-natural resources and the processes of their exploitation to ensure equitable redistribution of revenues, form the basis for integrated rural development and the building of a functioning, sustainable, democratic Liberian state, consistent with the expectations of the people and the international community.
Nimba Council of Elders pointed out that the security sector reform, particularly the police and immigration services, and all related forces of a non-military nature, should instill a specialized code of conduct based on professional policing ethics, integrity, and most importantly, non-partisanship.
“Liberia must have a non-partisan security force, especially the police, consistent with the expectations of our people and the international community,” the Council noted.
About adhering to the rule of law, the elders said the security of the State is guaranteed by adherence to the rule of law.
In the foregoing, NCE then paid tribute to the outgoing administration for upholding the spirit of the constitution, as demonstrated by the graceful nationwide concession message, following the just ended presidential runoff elections.
“We must all endeavor to ensure that the gains we have made in participatory democracy will continue to grow consistent with the expectations of our people and the international community. We salute President George Weah for his demonstration of statesmanship by his concession speech of Friday, November 17.
Therefore, the Council affirms its support as Weah steers the nation through this period of peaceful political transition from one democratically elected government to another democratically elected government, as was done in January of 2018,” they noted.
