Many Of His Crowd Of Supporter Dressed In Ruling CDC Party T-Shirt
And Wearing Blue & Red Beret—What’s driving his inspiration?
By Kelvin Gonlah, gonlahkelvin1995@gmail.com
Former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in the Weah government, Nathaniel McGill is clearly not deterred by United States sanction imposed on him for “public corruption”, as he continues to tour Margibi County declaring his intention to contest the October 10 legislative election.
Back in November last year, US Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy warned Liberians and others that there are consequences transacting with former Liberian government officials under US sanctions.
Amb. Michael McCarthy warned individuals or institutions engaged in transactions with former and present sanctioned Liberian government officials that they too risk facing US sanctions.
Mr. McGill’s latest mobilization trip to Margibi County with many supporters wearing CDC T-shirts and red and blue beret was over the weekend, when the sanctioned former Minister and former Chairman of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) McGill received a rousing welcome from thousands of Margibians.
In the crowd were Elders, Town Chiefs, women groupings, youth wings, first time voters and Community heads over 4 Communities in Mamba Kaba, Margibi County, District#: 1.
Speaking to a cross-section of Magibians, the Senatorial hopeful Nat McGill said called on citizens to go and register to vote beginning March 20, 2023, the official kick off date set by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
“In the next 30 days, Liberians will make a big decision for their country as such, all Liberians should use the opportunity on March 20 to do their unprecedented Biometric registration, which will capture all eligible voters in Liberia,” Mr. McGill said.
He said that no one should be left behind during the time of registration because it will be difficult for those who will miss the Biometric registration this year.
Despite being covered with the US sanction, Mr. McGill however vowed to make history in Margibi County, bragging that anything he touches makes history.
“There has been a lot of migrations in Margibi over the last six years, people are moving here every day, the populations have shifted to Margibi, we have to show that population through our voter registration; population sometimes brings development and when people see communities that are populated; based on the national policy for development, people will move development in that community,” the former Minister of State pointed out.
“I want to challenge you, one man brings one, let’s move from door to door, my job is to facilitate and support the community and to turn the people out. And as your Senator in waiting, I want to promise you, you know sometimes you have to be thinking when McGill appears somewhere you know what it means. From the beginning of next year, the way people will see Margibi will be different because you will have McGill as your Senator. After you have gotten your Biometric Card, make sure that we vote and give our President Weah a first-round victory,” McGill, the now Senatorial hopeful stressed.
According to him, he has vast knowledge in running the office of the presidency than any other; at the same time, he condemns oppositions political leaders for having no idea of running the office of the presidency.
He continued that Liberians shouldn’t be deceived, adding that he has sat near the seat of the President; he knows the complication of running the office of the Presidency.
The US sanctioned former Liberian government Minister urged Margibians to muster the courage because there will be a lot of criticizing, but they need to be stable and resilient to move forward.
Clarifies ties to East International construction company
Addressing the crowd about reports linking him to East International Company which was given the contract to expand the Monrovia-Robertsfield high, Mr. McGill lamented that the company was established in Liberia in 2010 when he was not Minister of State.
According to him, at that time, he was not a member of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), but he later joined the party in 2011.
It can be recalled in 2022, Mr. Nathaniel McGill was accused of being the owner of East International Construction Company and Quality Construction Company but he told the gathering that he has no link with the company.
“That company is not for me, that company was established in 2010, and in 2010, I was not in CDC, I was behind Winston Tubman. 2011 I joined CDC, 2010 I was behind Winston Tubman. How can I own a company that was created in 2010 by the very administration that created it? In 2017, W. Gyude Moore who was the Minister of Public Works gave $USD 20, 000.00 contracts to the Company. In 2017, in September, the Unity Party’s government gave that company a 56 million dollar contract, then the people said that the company belongs to me. The procurement process that they accused me of manipulating. The procurement process was done in 2017 when I was nowhere, I was just Chairman of the CDC. How could I have manipulated the procurement process that was controlled by the government of Liberia and I was Chairman of CDC? But they accused me and say that my company”, he told the gathering.
The Margibi County sanctioned Senatorial aspirant underscored the need for the people of Margibi County to keep the courage and turn their backs on those who continue to criticize him adding that criticism cannot bring development rather it brings disunity among people; scare away major developments.
Mr. McGill said his major priority is to educate and build Margibi County.
Weah’s sanctioned disgraced former Minister of State explained that other people who were in government squandered their time in government and they did not provide jobs and scholarships for Liberians.
He disclosed that they launched a scholarship that benefited over 30,000.00 students of Margibi County, saying that education is their passion.