My Good Colleague and Nephew, Alhaji Lusinee F. Kamara, ALCOP Political Leader;
Chairman, Nephew Ansu V.S. Dulleh, and Honorable Members of the Executive Committee;
Alhaji Ahmadu Sheriff and other Esteemed Leaders of ALCOP Elders Council;
Supportive Allies from other Political Institutions;
Distinguished Members of the UP Entourage;
Compatriots and Well-Wishers:
In consideration of the known and accepted fact that this highly revered political Institution, ALCOP, has a huge Muslim membership, permit me to more appropriately salute you with: ASALAMU’ALAYKUM!
It will be an understatement for me to note how profoundly I feel at home in your midst. It is a known fact that a long list of your eminent members are good Liberian compatriots with whom I have held long, cordial and highly productive relations, spanning several decades.
And so, let me register deep appreciation for this kind gesture of having me on your premises for an occasion as nationally significant as this.
We assemble here on this historic day to witness a noble and patriotic move that will embolden our effort to RESCUE this nation from the depths of degradation to which the current wasteful and corrupt conglomeration of incompetent and nonchalant characters have pushed it.
We come together today to coalesce our efforts, bind our energies, and get all hands on deck to salvage and restore what the past devastating six years of misrule have left of our dear nation.
Wielding the adage of THINK LIBERIA, LOVE LIBERIA, and BUILD LIBERIA, we gather here today to close ranks on a task so germane to the forward march of this nation. The significance of the occasion thus defies any underestimation.
By your decision, I stand so moved that I can bear witness that I see ahead a brighter future, a future filled with the air of healing and restoration. I can see a future of inclusion, wherein the children of Christians and Muslims, and of the various ethnic groups, working together harmoniously for the development of this nation.
I should spare no time therefore to stretch my arms in warm embrace and humble acceptance of your historic ENDORSEMENT of the tenets, precepts and concept of the RESCUE MISSION as heralded by your fraternal Unity Party.
As I rise to accept this notably nationalistic endorsement, let me forewarn you that this undertaking is no easy one. The resolve on the other side of the isle to keep this country under the sway of malfeasance, thievery, and total mismanagement is no less strong. Let us thus brace ourselves, not allowing anything to take us unawares.
As I have held all of my adult life, I urge that we bind together to build a tolerant society, a society in which our diversity is a reservoir from which we draw inspiration to fashion a great and socially harmonious nation.
As one who has held such deep and broad connections with members of the respective ethnic groups and religions of this country, I have seen the gigantic advances we make whenever we evoke and lean on our commonalities. Trust me, if we go after the things that unite us, we will certainly discover that we are more alike than we are unlike. Let us be mindful that division, strife and bigotry have never built any nation even an inch.
As I skim through the audience, I am reminded of so many of your sainted forebears who have departed this earth; who otherwise would certainly have been at the high table here this very minute.
I have no doubt that my good old associates, now departed, ALCOP Founder Alhaji G.V. Kromah, Alhaji Losene M. Kamara and Sheikh Kafumba Konneh, all respected leaders in the National Muslim Council, Quardu-Gboni Paramount Chiefs Musa (Gboni) Kamara, and Musa (BBC) Kamara, among many others, should be looking down from Heaven and showering blessing on this gathering today.
These fine and outstanding compatriots stood up and toiled for harmony and the advancement of this nation. Let us thus show them appreciation by our willing response to the call to national duty. These personalities paid the full price to land us at where we are today. Our coming together thus is somewhat a fulfilment of their dreams.
I close with my assurances that I will always strive to do my part from this honored position you have so trustingly placed me.
Apart from politics, we are uncles, aunties, nephews, and nieces. Both political parties have the same people who founded them; and from the same place too. Hence we have a common heritage and a common national cause. Certainly, we can do this.
May Almighty Allah help us build this nation to his honor. God bless us all. God bless our nation, Liberia.
