Dr. Thomas Nimene Tweh, Jr., alias Original Country Man, says he has abstained from supporting a particular candidate for the presidential run-off election in Liberia, with a call on his supporters to cast their votes for the betterment of the nation and the improvement of their living condition.
Dr. Tweh was denied by the Supreme Court of Liberia from contesting for the representative seat of electoral district #11, Montserrado County, following a domicile case filed against him by a few of his political opponents.
Though the Hearing Officer and the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) earlier ruled that Dr. Tweh was a resident of the district, the Supreme Court overturned the decision, which prompted a high level of division among residents of the district.
The presidential run-off is expected to take place between President George Manneh Weah and former Vice President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, standard bearers of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and Unity Party (UP), respectively, on November 14, according to the National Elections Commission (NEC).
It was necessitated by the failure of the 20 parties and independent candidates that contested in the elections to obtain 50 percent-plus-one-vote, in keeping with the 1986 Liberian Constitution.
In a statement issued in Monrovia on Thursday, November 9 upon his return to the country, Dr. Tweh emphasized that he remains neutral and will not pledge his support to any of the candidates vying for the nation’s highest seat.
He pointed out that his decision to observe the process and play a “twin-mother role” is intended to afford his thousands of supporters, who are partisans of varied political parties, the opportunity to make independent and informed decisions.
Dr. Tweh maintained that his supporters, who have been very disappointed as a result of the court’s ruling, denying him the opportunity to represent them at the National Legislature, now have the chance to make a sound judgment in the interest of Liberia and the masses.
He encouraged them to vote their conscience, weigh in on the candidates and see the person who is best suited to lead and transform Liberia for the benefit of all, and not a selective few.
Dr. Tweh observed that for too long the wealth and resources of Liberia have not been utilized for the benefit of the masses, especially ordinary citizens and, as such, Liberians, including his supporters, should be decisive at the ballot box to take a decision that would shape the destiny of the nation.
He added that, prior to casting their votes, his supporters should take this time to have a sober reflection on the challenges that they are encountering and where they want to see themselves and the country in the next six years.
He said citizens should most importantly pray to God for guidance and direction in casting their votes for the leader of their choice. This, he noted, would enable them to elect the right leader for Liberia.
“As the political leader of thousands of supporters representing various political parties and groupings in district #11, Montserrado County, I want to respectfully and officially announce to the public that I will not be supporting a particular presidential candidate during the run-off. I remain neutral, and want to call on my supporters to vote their conscience for the betterment of Liberia,” he stated.
Dr. Tweh continued, “The decision that you will make at the ballot box should take Liberia to another level or must improve your living condition. Your vote should also help provide opportunities for you to be able to work and fetch for yourselves in order to provide the basic necessities for you and your family members.”
Speaking further, Dr. Tweh observed that Liberia’s future now lies in the hands of its citizens.
He said Liberians, particularly those who canvassed in the rain and sun to ensure that he represents them at the National Legislature, should not allow themselves to be misled by accepting handouts, rice or cash, from politicians to trade their votes ahead of the run-off.
He encouraged citizens to bear in mind that the decision they will make on November 14 will impact them positively or negatively in the future; as such, they should not jeopardize their future and the future of the unborn generation by voting based on friendship or tribal lines.
“We all should see Liberia as the bigger picture when casting our votes on November 14. We should vote for our future and the future of our children. Let’s speak through our votes to guarantee lasting peace and stability in our country,” he said.
Dr. Tweh however cautioned against the misconstruing of his decision by people who do not mean well for Liberia and its citizens, especially those preventing the choices of Liberians from being elected during national elections.
He cautioned his supporters and others against engaging into acts that have the propensity to derail the peace and stability of the country before, during and after the run-off election.
Dr. Tweh emphasized that maintaining peace and tranquility in post-conflict Liberia should be the paramount concern of all citizens.
He further expressed the hope that the outcome of the presidential run-off election will be a “win-win” situation for all Liberians and will help transform the country from its current status to another level.
He encouraged all parties to accept the outcome of the election and embrace one another after a prolonged period of division and mixed feelings, which characterized the entire 2023 electioneering period.
Hundreds of supporters of Dr. Tweh stormed the Roberts International Airport (RIA) upon his return to the country recently to welcome him.
They stated that though the humanitarian has been prevented from representing them, they still see him as their “political godfather” due to the immense and countless numbers of humanitarian assistance he has rendered over the years.
They named the provision of microloans to marketers, scholarships to students, construction of hand pumps, rehabilitation of roads, among others, as some of the initiatives Dr. Tweh has undertaken in and out of the district.
The decision made by Dr. Tweh to remain neutral will help provide his supporters the opportunity to either independently vote on party lines or abstain from the process.
“Dr. Tweh was not waiting to be elected before starting to help or develop our district. He has done things that even our current Representative and others never thought about doing. We will always appreciate him for what he is doing for our people, especially those who are in need. As for me, I didn’t even vote in the elections because he was denied. Since he was denied, I don’t have any appetite to vote for anyone,” Doris Saydee, 45, stated.