Liberia: 10 Political Parties ‘Youth Leagues’ Endorse Weah’s Incumbency
— Following reports of “cash-induced endorsements” by previous political leaders
Ten opposition political parties’ youth leagues have endorsed incumbent President George Weah.
The youth leagues come from the Alternative National Congress, African Liberation League, Liberia Rebuilding Party, All Liberian Party, Liberian People’s Party, National Democratic Coalition, Liberia National Union, Liberty Party, All Liberian Coalition Party, and the Movement for Progress Change.
The parties, over the weekend, were represented by their various youth league chairpersons and nearly all executive members of their youth leagues.
Reading a joint statement on behalf of the parties' youth leagues under the banner, “Consortium of Opposition Political Parties National Youth Leaders”, the chairperson of the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP), Austin B. Toe, said President George Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change remains the chosen leader and he deserves a second term.
He added that the runoff election is essential to the growth and future development of the country, noting that they cannot wait to make their decision known in favor of the Liberian leader.
The influx of ‘youth wings’ of political parties endorsing Weah’s 2nd-term campaign follows reports that several other political parties received hundreds of thousands of US dollars in cash and material rewards for endorsing the incumbent presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, political leaders of some of the opposition political parties including the Liberia People’s Party and the ALCOP have already endorsed Unity Party leader Joseph Boakai for the runoff election.
The National Chair of the National Youth League of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, Emmanuel Johnson, welcomed the opposition youth leaders and termed the move as a one meant “to emancipate the people of Liberia from a Unity Party third term rule.”
The initiative to convince and bring on board these youth leaders to the CDC for President Weah’s re-election was an idea from the youth league of the ruling party through its arrowhead, Johnson.
“We have realized that the second phase of the liberation struggle (runoff election) as announced by the National Elections Commission would require dialogue, convincing young people, reestablishing interpersonal relationships with them and creating an environment where they feel safe,” he said.
“Long before now, these political parties have their own constitutions, bylaws, and philosophy and we are grateful to them for seeing the CDC as the only viable means to achieving the needed development and economic empowerment the Liberian people so desired," Johnson said.
He stressed that the 11 young political leaders have decided to join the CDC and ensure President Weah is re-elected, adding that for him, those are magnificent stances they have taken.
“And because we believe that President Weah is the only president who has given many young people the national leadership role evidenced by his unprecedented desire to empower more young people in a national leadership role,” Mr. Johnson intoned.
The CDC Youth League Chairman urged the young people to go back to their various counties of residence to make more disciples and ensure President Weah is re-elected for another six years to continue on the path of development for the country and its people.
He encouraged them not to listen to whatever criticism came from the opposition but to continue to preach the message about the good leadership of President Weah and how his re-election would benefit this generation and generations to come.