By Precious D. Freeman
The former Mayor of the city of Paynesville, Cyvette Gibson, is appealing to young people to prioritize dialogue over violence in order to revert Liberia from its ugly past.
Madam Gibson’s plead comes ahead of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections, because according to her, youths are responsible for maintaining the peace, not only within their communities, but the country and within various political parties.
Speaking in an interview with this paper recently, she disclosed that the youths make up over 60% of the population, therefore, they should firmly stand their ground, but in a non-violent manner.
“We are relying on the youths to build the nation because we have set the foundation for them to follow, but that can only happen when they maintain the peace,” Madam Gibson said.
She added that the youths now have the stage and platform for them to lay the foundation for their children and not their parents again, because they would have been gone.
The former Mayor pointed out that any attempt for the youths to choose violence will resort them becoming adamant and resolute to take the country backward; adding that dialogue is the only means to focus on the path to peace which the youths should abide by.
“Dialogue and learn to express yourself and disagree peacefully; have clear understanding as to what you want and how you want it, because violence should not be the way to go about doing it,” Madam Gibson pleaded with the young people.
She intoned that she is having consultation and taking this message of peace to the youths in the communities and political parties to know their rights supra.
“We have to maintain the peace even before and after elections,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, she is calling on the youths to vote for what is in the interest of the nation and not what is in their interest, adding that they should not vote based on sympathy but to consider what will see Liberia in the right direction for the better economic status of everyone.
