On the occasion marking the official launch of the Bicentennial in Monrovia, Liberia President, George Weah call for peace among Liberians and put away political differences.
“As we recollect, review and re-examine these first two hundred years, we cannot help but wonder what motivated our forefathers to break the chains of bondage and slavery in order to seek a land where they could experience the benefits of freedom irrespective of color, creed or religion. This converging of people from various backgrounds and localities eventually led to the founding of the country that we all now know and love as the Republic of Liberia. Today, as descendants of these diverse groups of people, we are all citizens of Liberia, with a common national identity. This commemoration must therefore bring us closer together, and strengthen our national unity, even as we recognize and celebrate our diversity. I believe that our Founding Fathers were in search of a Land of Liberty and Freedom, which would serve as a home and a safe haven for all its citizens, regardless of tribe or creed, or religion, and as a place where they could exercise and enjoy their inherent and inalienable human rights without obstruction.
Wherever their souls may lie today in peaceful repose, I believe that our forefathers can look down on today’s Liberia with pride and satisfaction, seeing that their dreams have not only been realized but that their vision has also been sustained”, President Weah pay homage to Africa forefathers and call for unity.
Deliberating on the official theme for the Bicentennial Celebrations, “National Unity and Reconciliation”, President George Weah said, National Unity and Reconciliation is the foundation upon which the people must build the New Liberia. According to him, it must become the imperative agenda of all current and future national development policies. The projects and programs emanating from these policies should focus on eliminating all forms of discrimination and exclusion in Liberia. He added that this is the only option for survival and continuity as a holistic and inclusive body politic, even as the country strives to recover from the devastation and division that characterized the country’s recent civil conflict.
Mr. Weah appealed to his countrymen to focus on promoting unity amongst all Liberians, wherever they reside and encourage all to make meaningful contributions to the nation-building tasks of the country.
According to him, redefining Liberia’s identity and building a shared sense of nationalism should be at the center of continued reconciliation in Liberia. He noted that the model for genuine National Unity and Reconciliation in Liberia is inspired and founded on positive cultural values, citizenship building, good governance, economic empowerment, and the rule of law.
“Let us, therefore, continue to embrace the tenets of National Unity as we move forward – together – towards becoming a reconciled and democratic nation, whose citizens are at peace with themselves, their neighbors, and the world. As Liberians from diverse ethnic groups, religious beliefs, and regions, we must continue to co-exist peacefully as one united Liberian Nation in accordance with our Constitution. We, as Liberians, can only promote National Unity and Reconciliation by living together in peace and harmony”, President Weah continues to encourage his people.
The Liberian Leader mentioned that to promote National Unity and Reconciliation through exercising tolerance by accepting each other’s way of life. He noted that in a country such as Liberia, there are so many people with different cultures and traditions, which influence their ideologies about life and about how to approach things. Mr. Weah encouraged every Liberian to accept and accord every person the respect he or she deserves in matters relating to differences in ideologies and understanding. The Liberian President said patriotism is the bedrock of national foundation because when there is love for one’s nation, such love will engender a spirit of brotherhood, sisterhood, and fraternity among us as citizens of Liberia, our common country.
“Let us therefore vigorously denounce and combat acts, writings, and utterances which are intended to promote any kind of discrimination, intolerance or lack of justice, all of which are counter-productive to the achievement of National Unity and Reconciliation. Fellow Liberians, in fostering genuine National Unity and Reconciliation, we must let go of the past, embrace the present within the context of our diversities, and give birth to the future with Unity, Peace, Reconciliation, and Sustainable Development as our imperative agenda. As President and Chief Executive of our sweet land of liberty, Liberia, I want to call on ALL LIBERIANS to champion the cause of national unity and to reconcile our differences for Liberia’s growth and development. Let us reinforce and strengthen the common heritage that unites all of us, both the descendants of the indigenous people and the descendants of the settlers. We are One People, with One Destiny”, the Liberian Leader noted.
Mr. Weah encouraged his people to do all in their powers to keep the country safe, not only for the citizens and foreign residents, but for all who would visit the country as friends of Liberia, for work, for play, for business, for investment, and for learning. The Liberian Leader petitioned his countrymen to fight discrimination in every phase and form of the country’s socio-economic cohabitation and collaborations as Liberians, both at home and in the diaspora.
“Let us fight intolerance and impatience with one another. Let us fight hatred and malice. These are all negative vices that detract from our higher purpose of oneness and national coherence. Because there is so much more that unites us than that which may tend to divide us, let us celebrate the complexities of our rich diversities, and live in peace, unity, and harmony as our brother’ and sisters’ keepers. As we today embark upon the journey for the next two hundred years, let us think beyond this Bicentennial about the generations that will succeed us in the years to come, and the beautiful ones who are not yet born. How can we pave the way so that their futures may be brighter than ours, their opportunities greater than ours, their growth and development enhanced, and their prosperity assured”, President Weah cautioned Liberians.
According to Mr. Weah, Beyond the Bicentennial Celebrations, Climate Change is a threat to our very existence, and therefore we must join the rest of the world to save our planet. The Liberian Leader mentioned that Rural-urban migration is another problem that is needed to be fixed together, because the Capital City, Monrovia, is already overcrowded, leading to all of the problems brought on by congestion, such as lack of adequate housing, sanitation, health, and educational facilities, among others. He noted that Monrovia was never designed to hold the large percentage of the population who now live in it.
