GANTA, NIMBA COUNTY – The Liberian People’s Party (LPP) Standard bearer and a Presidential candidate in the 2023 general and presidential elections, Tiawan Saye Gongloe says if he is elected as President of Liberia in pending general and presidential elections, he will find war for the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to fight internally, something he said will be the war of agriculture.
He said since the formation of the AFL in 1908, they have not fought a simple war in the country stating that the war the army will be fighting will be the war against hunger in Liberia.
The LPP Standard bearer who has been revealed to be the torchbearer of corruption sweepers in Liberia seems to be directing his focus on creating a better Liberia for all Liberians.
He said under his government, he will not waste the country’s resources on the military in terms of salary payments, especially when they are doing nothing to contribute to the development of the country.
He added that under his leadership as President of Liberia, the AFL will be involved with agricultural productivity.
He said machines will be provided for the use of agriculture production across the 15 counties for the military, adding that doing so will help reduce the importation of rice in Liberia and will help improve the living conditions of the Liberian people.
The former president of the Liberia National Bar Association said the Government of Liberia spends over US$2 million each year on the importation of rice when the soil of the country is good for agricultural productivity.
The 2023 Presidential candidate further attributed the backwardness of development in Liberia to the ‘failure’ of the country’s leadership to adequately seek the interest of the citizens.
Gongloe, at the same time, accused past and current leaders of the country of doing nothing to positively impact the lives of Liberians, despite the abundance of natural resources that are being mined by companies in the country.
“This country is blessed with natural resources and rich soil but, the country has been victimized as a result of leadership and bankruptcy,” he added.
He told jubilant supporters in Ganta, Nimba County over the weekend that bad governance has made corruption an acceptable culture of governance, as a result of the high level of corruption in most government offices, a majority of the people of Liberia are getting poorer and poorer every day.
Further outlining the negative impact of the menace, he said corruption has made every aspect of life so difficult that more children are dying in Liberia before reaching the age of five, more pregnant women are dying and more people are dying from easily curable diseases and from hunger.
“Corruption is keeping more children out of school because their parents cannot afford to send them to school. Corruption has made it impossible for Liberians to travel in most parts of Liberia, especially in Southeastern Liberia during the rainy season. Corruption is a weapon of mass destruction,” he stated.
Likening corruption to a pandemic, he said the only way to slow it is to take preventive measures.
“We will tell the people that LPP believes in operating an open, transparent, and accountable government with the assets, salaries, and benefits of the president, the vice president, the Speaker, the President Pro Tempore, the lawmakers, the Chief Justice, justices and judges, as well as all public service employees, made known to the people of Liberia by publishing same on a government website.”
He vowed to mobilize and motivate the Liberian people by showing a good example for all Liberians to collectively sweep corruption from Liberia; saying “The number one task of the Liberian People’s Party is to lead the Liberian people in the battle against corruption. We must collectively form a movement against this notorious enemy of Liberia.”
He made the statement when he officially launched his presidential campaign in Ganta, Nimba County.
Additionally, a group of disenchanted CPP coordinators and zonal heads endorsed the presidential bid of Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongole ahead of the October polls.
The disenchanted CPP partisans described Cllr. Gongole as the best-suited person to lead Liberia.
The Alexander B. Cummings partisans have vowed to vigorously campaign for Cllr. Gongole in the various towns and villages to make sure he is elected President on October 10, 2023.