As scores of congratulatory messages and commendations from well-meaning citizens and personalities in and out of the nation, including the US President Biden and other world leaders, are being received by President-elect, Ambassador Joseph Boakai, the Grand Mufti of the Supreme Council of Fatwa, Sheikh Abubakar M. Sumaworo, has, through his office, followed suit by extending his warmest felicitations to the latter, alongside his Vice President, Jeremiah Kpan Koung, for their election in the just-ended November 14, 2023 run-off poll to which incumbent President Weah peacefully conceded defeat.
Speaking to the media over the weekend at the Heritage Mosque on Gurley Street in Monrovia, the Grand Mufti of the Supreme Council of Fatwa, a renowned Muslim scholar and religious tolerant preacher, said while he is extolling His Excellency Ambassador Joseph Boakai for becoming the victor in the November 14, 2023 run-off election, he is at the same time praying that Allah guides him through the in-coming Unity Party government towards uniting the nation state and Liberians at home and in foreign parts so as to move the country’s development agenda forward amongst the comity of nations.
Sumaworo said he wants Allah to lead President-elect Boakai to stir the state of affairs of the country with wisdom, have him empowered and supported by His (Allah’s) grace and blessings when he takes up the gavel of authority in January 2024 as the 26th President of the Republic of Liberia.
Grand Mufti Sumaworo said he is of the candid conviction that if Allah Almighty blesses President-elect Boakai and protects him against all odds upon his induction in January 2024, he will respond to the needs of the Liberian people, be it in the areas of health, socio-economics, infrastructure and reconciliation, among others, irrespective of creed, political affiliation and religion.
In the same vein, Grand Mufti Sumaworo assured President-elect Boakai and his government to be sworn in office later in January 2024 of the cooperation of religious leaders in Liberia towards the implementation of the Unity Party’s in-coming administration development programs to benefit the broad spectrum of every Liberian citizen.
“We want to point out to you, Your Excellency Ambassador Joseph Boakai, that general reconciliation is most needed from your leadership by Liberians from across the state and those in other parts of the world,” Grand Mufti Sumaworo noted. “We also entreat you, Mr. President-elect, to see reason in making general reconciliation a key component of your administration’s noble agenda, to take the country to the next level.”
Islamic religious leader Sumaworo further said in his congratulatory message to President-elect Boakai that when Liberians are unified their strength will be built, but with disunity their strength could be useless.
At the same time, the Grand Mufti of the Supreme Council of Fatwa, Sheikh Abubakar Sumaworo, used the occasion to extol President George Weah (out-going) for the peaceful manner in which he conceded defeat in the run-off election of November 14, 2023 that saw the Unity Party Standard Bearer, Ambassador Boakai, winner of the somewhat tight presidential race.
He said the move taken by President Weah has made Liberia an exemplary country not only in Africa, but the whole world.
“The mature step taken by President Weah in acceptance of defeat in the run-off election, ahead of the NEC’s final election result, has branded Liberia as grandfather of all African republics on the Continent as well,” Grand Mufti Sumaworo noted.
Meanwhile, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakar Sumaworo has also extended thanks and appreciation to all Liberians of voting age for the peaceful manner in which they voted in the run-off election poll conducted by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The Muslim cleric is admonishing all Liberians, be they winner or loser in the election, to rally their support around President-elect Ambassador Joseph Boakai to enable him to implement the UP-led government’s development programs across the country.