…As he attributes reason to lack of finance
Ahead of the October 10, 2023, general and presidential elections in the country, presidential aspirant Mengistu Wolokolie has backed out of the race due to what he considers a lack of money to run his campaign.
“To all my supporters and well-wishers, if you feel bad by this announcement, I sincerely apologize. I am suspending the campaign for president of Liberia. I’m suspending my campaign not because I’m not too fond of the grueling task of traveling all over the country, but because I don’t have the needed resources to push forward with this process.” Aspirant Wolokolie said
Addressing a news conference on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Paynesville, presidential aspirant Wolokolie maintained that he is not withdrawing from the process because he is not confident of winning the process but because his little resources cannot help move the campaign to the next level.
He added that the young generation of Liberians is not ready and is not thinking about the future of Liberia, but rather they are being driven by their bellies, as always said by those old folks politicians.
Mengistu Wolokolie discloses that during his visit across the country for the past year, he was asked by Liberians as to the tribe he belongs to, what he has done for the country in building roads, schools, hand pumps, and wells, as well as how many children he has sent to school, among others.
Wolokolie continues by saying that the people of Liberia sold their rights to better living conditions for bags of rice and quick cash; as such, he was never willing to play the game, so they have refused to give him the needed support that will enable him to contest and win as president of the republic.
“I have been told visions and ideas are not what the Liberian people want; most people want to be told lies to make us feel about ourselves before winning any public seat in this country.” He added.
According to him, he cannot lie to Liberians about where the country is and where it should be, stating that he will always tell the people what they want to know and not what they want to hear.
The Liberian presidential aspirant has at the same time stated that Liberians made President Weah reelect him after a failed first term, citing that if we vote for the Weah Taylor-led administration, we deserve what will come to us.
Mr. Wolokolie stated that the campaign was about the people of Liberia, recounting that what America gives him, Liberia has refused to provide him the opportunity to deliver to his people.
“Liberia failed my generation and continues to fail the current and future generations, so this is why I came back to make that difference in our nation,” Wolokolie added.
He apologized to his supporters and all those who believe in him for letting them down at this dying moment of the country’s political era but said this was due to a lack of resources as no one is or is willing to help him fund the campaign across the country.
He expected Liberians to step up and save the country’s future, but they all allowed egos, pride, tribal divides, and political ideologies that stand for nothing but lining up individuals, wealth, and the generation to influence their interests.
“I’m dropping out because I don’t have the money to continue; I’m dropping out because financial resources are needed to run a campaign; it’s not because this campaign can’t get money, and not all money is good. This campaign has and will always do what is right morally and legally. Wolokolie said.
He disclosed that in the near future, he will endorse a candidate for the presidential race, as he was never coerced by anyone to back out of the race.
Wolokolie has regretted his actions but said even those in the opposition like Alexander Cummings, Joseph Boakai, Cllr Tiawon Gongloe, and ruling party president George Weah do not mean well for this country.
Meanwhile, Mengistu Wolokolie revealed that he will look for candidates who have exemplified these characteristics: loyalty, dutifulness, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
