As President Julius Maada Bio still occupies State House after his defeat, ex-Liberian President is taking an exit out of the executive mansion with warm congratulatory messages to his successor, Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the Unity Party.
Bio was announced winner of the June elections with 56.17 per cent of the total votes under cover of votes theft, But the out-going Liberian President did not tread that path as he put the country above his political party.
Weah’s congratulatory message came just after 99.58 per cent of the run off votes had been announced that the remaining polling places even if tallied would not change the results in his favour.
Clad in the shiny cloak of a democrat, he accepts the election result and prepares to take an exit striking Liberians with surprise when he congratulated his main challenger before the final results were announced as he concedes defeat.
“The results announced tonight though not final indicate that Ambassador Joseph Boakai is in a lead that is insurmountable. A few minutes ago, I spoke with the President-elect to congratulate him on his victory and to offer my sincere commitment to working with him for the betterment of our beloved Liberia,” Weah congratulates his successor who will be inaugurated in few days.
The defeat does not mean an end to Weah’s new party, the Coalition For Change as he urges his supporters to go home for now and come back another day.
“I urge you to follow my example and accept the results of the election. Go home tonight with the knowledge that our ideas and vision for Liberia remain strong. We are a young movement and our time will come again,” Weah instilled hope in his supporters and assured them that until he hands over power, he still remains their President and will continue to work for the good of Liberia.
president Maada Bio
The ex-Liberian President also expressed sentiments of good will for his successor who he hoped and prayed would deliver to the people of Liberia.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to President-elect Joseph Boakai, his campaign team. May his presidency be marked by success for all Liberians, and may our nation prosper under his leadership,” Mr Weah prayed for his challenger.
In a true spirit of citizenship and patriotism, Mr Weah described his successor’s victory as one that belongs to all Liberians who he also commends for their peaceful and orderly exercise of their franchise adding that they had demonstrated commitment to democratic principles that bind Liberians together.
For many democrats around the world, it would be unfair for Weah to congratulate himself as the elections were conducted under his tenure.
Before October, 2023, his government promised fairness, transparency and credibility, and he delivered.
Although he lost the elections, Weah also commended the election authorities for ensuring a transparent and credible exercise.
“I congratulate the National Elections Commission for a job well done,” he commends the electoral body while informing them that they have earned the respect of all Liberians, development partners, international observers and the world at large for completing the difficult task to the satisfaction of all stakeholders including the contesting parties.
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It is painful for an incumbent anywhere in the world to lose an election and usually try to fight back by not handing over power to the winners owing to the taunts and tough feedback he would from their supporters.
US President himself Joe Biden reminded African leaders during the November, 2022 summit of African leaders how difficult it was for the incumbent to hand over power after a defeat in light his party’s backlash. But, they have to give up power to strengthen democracy regardless of the consequences.
The most dangerous side of the electoral defeat is the retaliatory tendencies of the winning party whose supporters might go on the rampage targeting the losers.
They are usually not restrained on causing mayhem to supporters of the losing party with the new President turning a blind eye.
To cool down troubled waters, Weah appealed to the incoming President to build bridges and walk towards peace and national cohesion.
“The closeness of the results reveals deep division within the country. As we transition to the new Boakai administration, we must be vigilant to the dangers of division and work together to find a common ground,” he admonished the President-elect adding that more than ever, unity is paramount for the love of Mama Liberia.
Boakai was former Vice President in the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf regime trailed Weah very close in the first round with none meeting the constitutional threshold of 55 per cent.
But, expectations were high that he would make it in the second round as he had won the support and admiration of other political parties even before the run off date was announced.
Weah who seems to have lost grassroot support owing to an economic crunch had no option but to accept Liberians’ decision and leave the political stage. It is now, Boakai’s turn to come to the stage of action, and in five years, his leadership will determine how Liberia would look like.
Voters should not be taken for granted these days, and Boakai is sure to go after five years if he does not deliver on his mandate.
Unlike Weah, Bio did not accept the electoral outcome after his defeat, a move that shows clear contempt for democracy in Sierra Leone and beyond.
It was in July 27, 2023 that democracy was brought to its knees when Bio was sworn in the midst of guns, bombs and heavy artillery to keep pro-democracy supporters off from the scene.
As shown by international observers, votes were stolen by Bio’s government in league with ECSL Chief Moahmed Konneh.
Konneh heads ECSL (Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone), an agency mandated by law to conduct all public elections in Sierra Leone.
From the outset, Konneh had been quite supportive of President Bio who, many said, was his schoolmate in Bo Government Secondary School in the Southern region.
By his action, the ECSL boss chose to honour friendship, tribe and region than the country as weakened the pillars of peace and strengthen those of conflicts.
Signs that Bio would lose the election had shown just two years into his administration as evidenced by incessant protests in the formal and informal sector workers.
Civil and public servants especially teachers and lecturers have staged protests for low pay and poor motivation in the face of sky-rocketing inflation.
Very close to elections in Sierra Leone, workers of the state-owned telecoms company, SIERRATEL too protested against non-payment of salaries and allowances for several months.
Businessmen and retail traders too have embarked on sit-at-home protests against bad business environment characterised by harsh taxes, low sales, weak exchange rate between the US dollar and the Leone and high cost of living.
During such protests, shops would lock down for a week in Freetown costing government billions of Leones in taxes.
Even women and girls, despite police warning, took to the streets in protest against the unbearably high living cost, and the police responded with their usual heavy-handedness to drive the protesters away from the streets.
Every Sierra Leonean knew that the presidential election would be dragged to a runoff, but the sudden twist took many Sierra Leoneans as well as the international community by surprise as Bio was widely expected to surrender to his fate as the alarm bells for his departure had been rung long ago.
Such actions were clear signs that Bio had lost the elections even before the date for elections was set aside.
Instead of preparing for an exit, Bio tighten his hold on power by the use of the cash and cache pranks seen in the bribery scandals and terrifying intimidation methods he employed to strangle democracy in Sierra Leone.
A US-based media agency, Africanist Press exposed illegal and rapid increments in the salaries of ECSL officials very close to the electoral period while other government workers took home beggarly emolument packages.
As an open show of disrespect for the due process, the increments were never taken to parliament for approval even when the illegal act came to public attention, and formed one of the hottest topics of the day.
Africanist reports also showed whooping sums of money taken home by judges including the Chief Justice as mere rent allowances per year apart from what they are paid as salaries and wages monthly.
Little wonder that government won almost all their cases relating to the elections especially the Proportional Representation (PR) also known as the District Block System which was taken to Supreme Court for determination after the opposition party bashed at it.
Although APC was represented by one of Africa’s most erudite lawyers, Supreme Court handed down a verdict that favoured the ruling party even when there was no condition that warranted its application.
As a lawyer of good years standing in the bar, the court’s verdict left Dr Abdulai Conteh flabbergasted saying “it is a sad day for the rule of law in Sierra Leone.”
The PR system became highly contentious within and outside the country especially at the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) parliament where it was intensely debated.
Liberian members of parliament were most voiceferous as they fear a spill over of any conflict on their soil.
They opposed President Bio’s move to change the mode of election saying the rules could not be changed at the middle of the game and urged ECOWAS to take urgent action.
Bio was not restrained by the criticism as he moved ahead with his plan to become President at the second term at all cost.
Even the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) was not left out by Bio’s tactics as he muzzled the institution to do whatever he wanted.
PPRC was quick at imposing fines on opposition politicians while those of the ruling party had a field day.
The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) would be taken to task for any act deemed as a threat to peace while comments of the First Lady, Mrs Fatima Bio were ignored.
Similarly, the police which should be an independent body as provided by the 1991 Constitution also fell in the hands of the ruling party.
On several occasions, police officers would overlook political violence committed by thugs linked to the ruling party, and came down heavily on opposition supporters as evidenced by several occurrences in the country before, during and after the elections.
On the election eve in Bonthe district in the Southern region, dozens of APC supporters were arrested following a row that broke out between them and the APC supporters even when reports indicated that SLPP supporters triggered the violence.
The syndrome of favouritism occurred in various parts of the country, one of the key factors that dampened ECSL’s neutrality and credibility before the election.
The bad example badly dented on the electoral body making it difficult for Sierra Leoneans to accept them as men worthy enough to conduct the elections.
The people’s perception was never a figment of the imagination as Konneh proclaimed Bio winner of the elections although he did not win.
Bio did not stop at the use of cash to get the election on his side as he used the sledge hammer approach for ECSL officials that failed to support his course.
Deemed as a dissident at ECSL although she was forthright, ECSL Former Electoral Commissioner for Western Area, Miatta French was arbitrarily sacked and replaced with Zainab Mansaray who was hailed one of the youngest commissioners.
The dismissal of the erstwhile commissioner transcended legal bounds with many seeing it as a hoax and horse trading.
The law provides for security of tenure and procedures for the removal of election authorities. Such officers, by law, are appointed based on the consultation of leaders of various political parties, but it was not the case with the Bio regime who hires and fires election officials at will because it please his excellency.
Arguments abound that the Chief Electoral Commissioner is not properly seated as political parties opposed his appointment to this date.
When it came out, it became real that President Bio handpicked the ECSL Chief from the Financial Intelligence Unit to oversee a commission whose work he is not properly au fait with.
Suffice it to say the falsification of the results was one without doubt as he who pays the piper calls the tune.
On the eve of the elections, SLPP members were wild wolves ready to crush anyone that stood their way seeing the pools as a cut-throat or live-or-die battle.
Key officials who took a lukewarm or low key moves in the campaign period were seen anti-Bio victory must lay down kit. The syndrome continues as heads rolled at State House and key ministries after the election.
Sources close to the President said Bio laid off those who advised him to take the elections to a run off.
The likes of former Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor David Francis and Dr John Tambie, head of Infrastructure at state House and a number of other senior government workers lost their jobs after they lost Bio’s favour for merely advising him to opt for a run off.
Many said Bio decided to make it a first go fearing the humiliation that would follow if defeated in a first round as he conducted the highest number of campaigns than any other candidate in Sierra Leone’s political history.