Newly inaugurated President, Joseph Nyuma Boakia, has been urged to take adequate advantage of the richness of Liberia’s soil to harness the country’s developmental potential.
“What is more important is the development of Liberia, a very blessed and fertile land covered with streams. What I will encourage and advice His Excellency is to dwell more on agriculture. The land is fertile and the younger generation are in the position to lead the charge,” His Royal Highness, the Emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Shehu Ashimi II Ibn Umar Al-amin El-Kanemi, stated.
His Royal Highness said he wants the Unity Party (UP)-led government under President Boakai to invest in the youthful population of Africa’s oldest Republic.
The Nigerian envoy encouraged the new government to focus more energy on sensitizing Liberia’s youthful population about the importance of being self-sufficient.
“Seeing the resources, both mineral and human, in Liberia, I see no reason why Liberia cannot be at the top of all nation. This is a key area in sensitizing and enlightening the youths, for them to be self-sufficient to start on their own,” he stated.
Speaking to scores of journalists at the Nigerian embassy in oldest Congo Town on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, His Royal Highness expressed optimism that Liberia can surmount all of the developmental challenges of the new government and pay keen attention to agriculture and human resource development.
As part of Nigeria’s delegation to the inauguration of Liberia’s 25th President, held on Monday, January 22, 2024 at the Capitol Building, the seat of Liberia’s bicentennial Legislature, His Royal Highness Alhaji Shehu Ashimi II Ibn Umar Al-amin El-Kanemi also advised Liberians to embrace peace and genuine reconciliation.
“We have to accept ourselves. We have to be our brother’s keeper, and exhibit the sense of belonging to our brothers and sisters so that development can thrive,” the Nigerian envoy said.
Following the inauguration of President Boakai, which stemmed from the November 14, 2023 presidential run-off election, the Royal Highness disclosed that he wants Liberia to unite amidst political, tribal and religious diversities for the general good of the country.
He beseeched Liberians to embrace genuine peace on ground that in the absence of peace development cannot take place.
His Royal Highness said, “Where there’s no peace, there’s no development. Where there’s no peace the survival and quality of development is questionable.”
He also praised President Boakai for a well-pointed inaugural speech on ground that the speech signifies the President’s commitment to provide an environment where every citizens can contribute to the nation’s growth and development.
He said, “I sincerely appreciate and congratulate the inaugural speech of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. To me, the inaugural speech of the President has sent a very good signal and a very significant position to all Liberians and Africans at large.”
He praised Liberians for what he termed the genuine exhibition of a glamourous display of true democracy in the peaceful manner they conducted themselves in the November 14, 2023 presidential run-off election.
According to him, Liberia’s conduct in the democratic transition of power has positioned Africa’s oldest Republic as a leader of the continent.
He continued that he wants the UP-led government to remain committed to its pledge of a more inclusive, transparent and accountable democracy.
His Royal Highness Alhaji Shehu Ashimi II Ibn Umar Al-amin El-Kanemi is the King of Damaturu Emirate of Yobe State in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
At some point in time, Damaturu Emirate was part of the Ngazaragamo Emirates, which is situated in Gaidam, and extended as far as Chad to the east and Niger to the North.
In November 2003 the Yobe State Governor Bukar Ibrahim approved the appointment of Baba Shehu Hashimi II Ibn Umar El-Kanemi as Shehu Emir of Damaturu.
His Royal Highness was appointed Emir of Damaturu on May 15, 2004. He succeeded his brother Alhaji Bukar Ibn El-Kanemi, who had died in Mecca the previous year.
After Yobe State was created in 1991, he transferred to the state government, and in 1996 was Director of Finance and Supply in the Governor’s office.
His Royal Highness was a guest of the Monday January 22, 2024 inaugural ceremony on the invitation of the Unity Party by its National Chairman, Reverend Luther Tarpeh.
