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| Liberia president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |
Nigeria’s new ambassador to Liberia, Mr James Dimka, has sued for peace as his host country heads to the polls for Tuesday’s presidential and House of Representatives elections.
Dimka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, that sustaining the prevailing peace in the country was critical to its full socio-economic and political recovery.
Reports say that this will be the first time for the transfer of power from one democratically elected president to another in the country since 1944.
“My expectations are clear. We are praying there should be peace, before, during and after the elections in Liberia. No nation develops where there is rancor.
“Peace is cardinal, justice must prevail, transparency should be there. Once there is transparency; there is justice, people will be satisfied with the results of the elections. And that is what I expect should happen tomorrow.
“Those who win should remember that people voted them; those who lose should know that it is only one person that can win at a time.
“Once you know that people are involved, that if you win you are going to govern people, then you pray that there should be peace.’’
If there is no peace and there are no people, then you cannot be president, you cannot be governors.”
The envoy, who assumed duty on Monday, also stressed the need for Nigerians resident in the country to go about their normal duties and remain law abiding.
NAN reports that many Liberians are praying for a violence-free election and hoping for a new government that would improve the economy and maintain peace in the country.
Some of them told NAN of their prayers for peace from all the 20 presidential candidates, their parties and their supporters.
At a peace concert, Queen Juli Endee, a music artist, urged her fellow Liberians to shun violence during the elections.
“I am here to promote peace; that is what I do to continue to sustain the peace and we must maintain the peace.
“And it is important for us Liberians to respect the mandate of the international community because peace in Liberia is peace in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
“The West African countries have done very well for us. Now, it is our responsibility to maintain the peace that we have had over the years.
“We want a culture of peace, and denounce all forms of violence during and after the elections.”
Liberia has been through turbulent times in recent years occasioned by two brutal civil wars that left the country in ruins.
Outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who has served out her constitutional two terms in office, is lauded for restoring order and sustaining peace in the country in her 12 years in office.
