But Some Margibi County Traditional Leaders Come To McGill’s Defense
By Abraham Kollie, kollieabraham23@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia- Nathaniel McGill, now under US sanction, who one of the five senatorial candidates in Margibi County continues to come under strong criticisms from some of his colleagues in the race concerning allegations of his involvement in public corruption.
Recently, a joint statement was issued by candidates rallying citizens’ support to reject US-Sanctioned former minister of State for Presidential Affiars, McGill’s senatorial bid the County.
They include Vandalar R. Patricks of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP), Clarice Alpha Jah of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Ballah G. Zayzay of the Unity Party (UP), Joseph Y. Yapuyah People Unification Party PUP), and Joshua Robinson, an Independent, among others.
Joseph Y. Yapuyah People Unification Party, PUP
They termed the US-Sanctioned former Minister ‘s senatorial ambition as “a complete dark cloud over the County”, thus admonishing residents to have it abolished.
“We want to state here clearly that, the senatorial bid of the US-Sanctioned former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel Farlo McGill poses a dark Cloud over Margibi County, and we want you all to abolish this nightmare”. They said.
The senatorial candidates branded McGill as a stranger of Margibi who has not spent the duration of time in the county as required by the Constitution for candidates’ domicile eligibility.
“We also want to inform you that Nathaniel McGill is a stranger in Margibi and was rejected by his people in Gbarpolu County during the 2014 special senatorial election”. They noted.
They alleged that the only government-run Hospital, C.H. Rinne has been blocked from receiving assistance by donors due to corruption, something they attributed to the CDC Margibi County Senatorial candidate Nathaniel McGill.
They encouraged citizens to choose among the remaining seven candidates and elect them comes October.
“Among the Seven of us, you people can look among us and choose one person, rather than Nathaniel McGill” They encouraged.
The senatorial candidates however encouraged Margibians to question former minister McGill to identify his projects in the County while serving as Minister of States for Presidential Affairs under the Weah-Taylor administration.
They indicated that the lower end deserves such an opportunity in this 2023 elections but explained that such an opportunity should not be given to a stranger.
However, Traditional leaders including people living with disabilities across the five electoral districts on Saturday, August 27, 2023, had a peace dialogue among senatorial candidates contesting in Margibi County. Margibi County Senator J Emmanuel Emmanuel Nuquay and Liberia Former Minister of States for Presidential Affairs Mr. Nathanial F. McGill including other senators, the Religious and Disable Communities were seeing in Kollie Kain Town settling their political differences among these senatorial candidates.
Joe Moses Kpahel, head of the Liberia Christian Association of the Blinds doing the peace and reconciliation dialogue called on supporters of both senatorial and representative candidates to Concord with the Farmington Declaration organized by the National Election Communication (NEC)
“We as People living with disabilities and the Group of 72th, want to appreciate the traditional leaders and the religious community for organizing this historic event want to call on every supporter of politicians to maintain the peace of our country because the election is just an event,” Joe Moses Kpeleh stressed
Speaking further, Women In Peace Building Network Madam Jankie Cleark said it is important for Candidates contesting in the October 2023 general elections to explain their campaign platforms, instead of attacking individual politicians.
“Everywhere you are good to talk about what you are capable of doing for your people, let’s stop attacking each other, the time you will take to talk about another candidate, please use it to sell yourself and stop attacking” She added.
“We have resolved to stop the hate messages, and I want to call all my supporters to promote my agenda and avoid speaking to others who are contesting against me,” CDC Senatorial candidate, Nathaniel F. McGill explained.
“If our traditional and religious even our disabled community say, what can I do as an individual? We will protect the peace as we go along,” Senator James Emmanuel Nuquay added.