Liberia: “Stand Behind Your Son Koung,” Boakai urges Nimba voters

Former Vice President Joseph Boakai is in the fight of his political career. 

At 77, Boakai is keenly aware that his only chance of being President of Liberia is to mount the strongest opposition challenge to the incumbency of President George Manneh Weah. 

“Nimba is known for standing behind its own, and I urge you to stand behind your son Koung and provide him with your full support,” Boakai said while appealing to the people of Nimba who showed up in their numbers at a rally over the weekend in Ganta City to support his presidential ambition. 

Boakai, the standard bearer for the opposition Unity Party, has adopted a more strident tone — even though he is soft-spoken — while canvassing for votes across the country with visits to the three most vote-rich counties to gain support and solidify his bid for the presidency. 

In Nimba, Boakai and his campaign team marked the rally with  fervent speeches and a strong focus on the former Vice President’s experience and track record while appealing to the people of the county to fully support the Boakai-Koung ticket, which, they claimed, “is on a mission to rescue Liberia from the hands of Presidents Goerge Weah who has failed.”

Koung, a Senator for Nimba, is the vice running mate of Boakai and has a strong political following in his county as a result of his relationship with Senator Prince Johnson, who remains the county’s political godfather. 

“If we are to win these elections in the first round, we can do it by simply supporting him,” said Boakai in an appeal as he lifted the hand of Koung. “I brought your son who we believed in and think he can deliver. I will be happy if you can support us to deliver Liberia and bring growth and development. 

Boakai, in his determination to strike a chord with Koung’s and Johnson’s supporters and perhaps the entire Nimba at large, claimed that his relationship with Koung has been long in the making.

According to Boakai, his running mate is a good man who is capable of helping him rescue the country come October 10, which is just a few months away. 

“When we met he said to me: ‘Old man, I will support you even if I am not chosen as your running mate,’ and we made this decision because we wanted people that will contribute to the growth of this country,” Boakai says as he praises the people of Nimba County for their entrepreneurial spirit. 

Nimba, with its strategic significance in Liberian politics, has consistently held vast influence in national elections, making it a crucial battleground for any candidate seeking widespread support.   

The county has 308,421 registered voters and it has gone the way of Senator Johnson, who is revered as a “freedom fighter” by a majority of his people, while human rights advocates want to see him held accountable for atrocities committed by him and those under his command during the civil war. 

His political currency in the county has positioned him as a decision-making factor for access to the Nimba County electorate since the 2005 presidential run-off elections. He played a decisive role in bringing former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Weah to power.

Johnson’s support has made Boakai believe, more than ever before, that he has what it takes to defeat Weah who won the presidency in 2017 with the help of the elder Nimba Senator.

Boakai — still in Nimba and presenting himself as a candidate who is accessible as he strives to allay public concerns about his health — is claiming that his experience in politics has equipped him with the necessary leadership capacity to address these key issues effectively. 

He argues that under his leadership, there will be a strong focus on job creation, promoting homegrown industries, and attracting foreign investment to boost the local economy as well as the education system, ensuring that every child has access to quality education and opportunities for higher learning. 

However, Boakai's chances of winning Nimba and other vote-rich counties are not without challenges. One major obstacle he has faced is his association with the former Unity Party, which faced criticism for the way it ran the country between 2006 and 2017. 

He also faces fierce competition from other candidates, including Weah, who remains the frontrunner for the presidency and has been working hard to establish a foothold in popular voting counties.

His opponents have their own visions for the country and, like him, they will stop at nothing, trying to convince voters that they are the best choice.  As a result, Boakai is under considerable pressure to present a posture of strength while countering his opponents’ arguments and to prove that his dedication, experience, and vision for the country far surpass those of his competitors.

Although President Weah would be contesting the election without Johnson’s support, he is sure to build his narrative around ongoing road projects and other developments taking place under his administration, which could sway voters in the President’s favor.

This will fall a great deal short of the President’s numerous campaign promises and while Weah cannot boast much of job creation and poverty reduction, the president remains a popular figure who retains a large and committed base of supporters. 

But Boakai is banking on the hope that Liberians want change and has cast himself as a man on a mission to ‘rescue’ the country from Weah's rule. 

While he and his team are expected to stay for one or two more days in Nimba, he had previously made stops in Bong and Margibi counties, which are equally crucial to securing electoral victory. 

These two counties have historically been swing counties, with their respective electorates helping to often decide the outcome of presidential elections. 

Bong, which has 237,463 voters, has one of its Senators, Prince Moye, pulling support for Boakai’s campaign, while Margibi County has 184,425 voters. 

“This election is about who can deliver real results and ensure a better Liberia for all,” Boakai said at a rally in Bong County, a day before his trip to Nimba. “I know how to get things done, and I am dedicated to serving the people with integrity and honesty.”

During the rallies in Bong and Margibi, Boakai and his team focused most of their speech on differentiating the former Vice President from his opponents. The team stressed his experience and track record, contrasting them with his political opponents. 

They claimed that the Boakai administration would prioritize job creation and ensure that every Liberian has access to equal opportunities and a better quality of life.

According to Boakai and his team, the once progressive Liberia under the Unity Party has deteriorated since the ascendancy of Weah, especially in the sectors of agriculture, education, and health.

“As your president, I will give all Liberians hope again. I will improve the agriculture sector, education system and ensure that social services are improved under my government.

“My government will focus on providing decent job opportunities for all Liberians regardless of status and political affiliation,” Boakai said at a rally in Bong.  

The former Vice President and his campaign team reminds voters in Margibi and Bong counties that all is not lost in the face of the Weah administration’s failure to live up to its campaign promises as the UP can deliver if given the chance once more. 

Boakai then vowed to vigorously fight the menace of corruption, disclosing that the war against corruption will start with a comprehensive audit of the Weah-led government and ensure that would-be culprits are brought to book.Boakai’s county tour began in Montserrado County, which has the largest voting population and is considered a political stronghold. With 891,201 or nearly forty percent of all registered voters in Liberia, it is also regarded as the country’s cultural melting pot. Boakai, during his tour in Montserrado, wasted no time in making his case for the presidency while outlining his vision for the future of Liberia.