PHOTO: Aspirant Wolokolie (middle in white suit) being petitioned to enter the 2023 Presidential race
By Kelvin Gonlah, gonlahkelvin1995@gmail.com
As Liberians gear up for the upcoming 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections, the nation’s biggest political showdown is expected to feature several old and new faces, who will be vying for different elective posts.
One of the emerging players in the political contest is Mengistu E. Wolokolie, a young Liberian and an ex-US army man, who retired having served the American military after for 20 years.
He went public recently after being petitioned, declaring his intention to contest the top post—the presidency in the October 10, 2023 race.
Group of Mengistu E. Wolokolie’s supporters at the program
Mr. Wolokolie, a new face on the Liberian political landscape, was petitioned at the weekend by a cross-section of citizens in Grand Cape Mount in Tien Wonde, Tewor District, Grand Cape Mount County.
The Presidential aspirant holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Liberty University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Saint Martin University with a focus on international diplomacy and conflict resolution.
In the petition read by a prominent citizen of the county, Mr. Boima J. Massalay, the citizens expressed confidence that Mr. Wolokolie would be the solution to the many problems that the country faces such as poor education, poor healthcare delivery system, the drowning economy and high unemployment among others.
“There is low youth employment rate. Liberian youth currently have unemployment rate of 2.92%. The unemployment rates for our youth and those with disabilities are far too high. Our health sector is poor, with less or no drugs available at health facilities in the country. We don’t have access to affordable healthcare. There are substance abuse epidemics that claim thousands of lives every year,” said the petition.
“Our country’s image is at stake under the current regime. This is evidenced by the recent number of sanctions imposed on our national leaders by either the government or agencies of the United States Government. This clearly suggests that our country can be mugged by self-seeking and greedy leaders who only dream of taking and not giving. Honorable Menjestu Eddie Wolokolie, Liberia’s problem is about incompetent and greedy leadership. Such problem can only be solved when there is change of the ineffectual individuals who continue to take the country retrograde,” the citizens pointed out.
“Our country can grow and living standards improved if we as citizens can elect a transformative-visionary leader, and we the citizens of Grand Cape Mount County have resolved that you, Hon. Wolokillie, an independent contender for the 2023.
Presidential elections can and will be the liberator. We have resolute that Liberia can and will be rescued from her economic, international and political entanglements by your visionary leadership already manifested by your establishments or investments in Liberia,” the group furthered.
They believe that the platform of Aspirant Wolokolie is the best for Liberians, and as such, he must be seen as the preferred choice in the ensuing 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
“Your platform unambiguously puts forth your ambitions and skills in overcoming those tribulations: making early childhood education and universal pre-school a priority and investing in our teachers; investing in science, technology and research; building a strong, sustainable, shared economic growth; creating a well- paying job for the middle class life where everyone has a job that pays enough to raise a family and live in a dignity with sense of purpose, and as well as expanding on community based treatment, are of great sense enough to give the presidency to you for the next six years,” the petition added.
In response, Mr. Wolokolie accepted the petition and thanked the people of Grand Cape Mount for the confidence reposed in him to have him petitioned.
“As of now, we will be competing in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections. To the women and men of Grand Cape Mount County, if you are going to vote for me, you will vote for a better Liberia. To help us all, that will improve Grand Cape Mount County. I cannot do it alone, I need people like you,” he stated.
“I am humbled to stand before, I will say to the people of Grand Cape Mount County, the people of Liberia, and the world, I did not come to build and pump, I did not come to build well, I did not come to build school, I did not come to build a big house, I don’t even have to tell the people of what tribe I come from, but the people of Grand Cape Mount County accepted me. This is a Liberia that we all live in, a Liberia that does not describe which county or which county you are from. The only thing that we have is that we are all Liberians,” he told the gathering of Cape Mountainians.