Presidential Candidate, Tiawan Saye Gongloe, of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP), is urging fellow politicians, whether contesting for elective public office or not, in the pending elections, to “tune down war rhetoric” because war is not the answer.
He said the Liberian people do not need any more war or violence which could take the country backward, rather than forward, for both economic growth and infrastructure development.
Gongloe pointed out that war solves no problem, but causes the loss of human lives and destruction of properties, thereby setting the country and its people backward, whereas other countries progress with their developmental agendas.
He made these comments during the weekend, when addressing the media in Monrovia on trending national issues of concern, mainly coming from fellow politicians or contestants for elective public office, in the scheduled October polls
Gongloe, though, did not reference any name(s), but in recent time, there has been “war rhetoric” coming from the Unity Party (UP) Standard-Bearer, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who stated recently that “no one person has monopoly over violence or an eye for an eye.”
Also, Nimba County’s incumbent Senator, Prince Yormie Johnson, threaten to “get even” with fellow Nimbaian, in person of Electoral District #4 Representative, Gunpue Kargon.
Similarly, Electoral District #10, Montserrado County’s Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, vowed to teach the National Electoral Commission (NEC) a lesson if he feels cheated or does not get reelected.
But Gongloe believes that these statements coming from fellow politicians are instilling fear in the population and have the potential of scaring away investors from the country, stating that they will come and go but the country will remain.
“No country can have a socio-economic development for education, health, among others in the midst of chaos that takes the country backward or threatens the peace and stability of the country” he noted.
Because of this, Gongloe continued that he shall continue to reach out to opposition blocs, likewise the governing party in recent time, for everybody to slow down their harsh wordings just for state power.
“I visited the governing party headquarters and spoke with them, likewise my fellow opposition blocs like the Collaborating Political Parties, Unity Party, All Liberian Coalition Party, and others,” he said.
The LPP torchbearer went further that the party does not want anything negative to affect the peace and security of the country, therefore, let the elections or campaigning be issue-related and not threaten the stability of the country.
On reconciling the country, Gongloe stated that it has to remain permanent for long years to come, perhaps not during his generation, but it is important for the peace process, thereby keeping the country quiet from any confusion.
“Former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf stated that we failed to reconcile the country and that is what I am doing during this campaign period, by going out reconciling and uniting our people,” he noted.
Gongloe then reflected on his nationwide tour early this year, considering what happened between the Gio and Mano people on one hand and that of the Krahn on the other hand, during the course of the civil war. He slept in Tuzon, Grand Gedeh County, and the hometown of the late President Samuel Kanyon Doe.
There and then, he continued: “With that went wrong between the two tribes, I slept in Tuzon and the residents there were happy, played traditional songs, and danced the whole night long, and I was happy that I did that. Liberians want to be united and not divided by war or tribalism.”
“I also went to Pyne Town, Juarzon District in Sinoe County, and that is the hometown of the late Vice Head of State, Thomas Weh-Syen, who served in the late Samuel Doe’s regime following the military coup in April,” Gongloe said.
