Clouded in the background of Sundaygar Dearboy’s latest musical hit ‘Ugly Baboon’, incumbent President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf marked the first day of campaign activities with a fierce but poignant message to her political opponents, declaring emphatically that she is already in winning mood and on winning territory.

Not finished yet’

“That my area”, the president declared as she addressed partisans at what the ruling party called an acquaintance rally at its Congo Town headquarters in Monrovia. Taking a jibe at her political opponents, Sirleaf poked a pointed message as she told politicians to wait a few more years as she still has a mission to complete and a mandate to fulfill.

Sirleaf said she was optimistic that the mammoth turnout of Unity Party Partisans and supporters at the Party’s national headquarters is a fulfillment that she has over the last five years delivered most of the campaign.

Heralding a litany of her achievements over the past five years, Sirleaf said: “The construction of roads throughout Monrovia, clinics, schools, and hospitals in this country, that my area!

The debt that was accumulated over the past decades by those other people which our little children would have been paying for over 20 years, that my area! Taking our market women that were selling in that street and building market buildings for them, that my area! Paying civil servants on time and with that own account, that my area! Having 2,000 and more trained new armed forces and preparing the coastguard with boats patrolling our coastal waters, that my area!

Back are light and water when there was none, and now you can open a pump in your house, that my area! Rebuilding Liberia’s image with the international community and bringing back to Liberia those partners of ours who left this country, that my area! I am not finished yet, the free compulsory primary education for our children that my area!” 

Will complete what she started

Sirleaf assured partisans that she has a mandate to complete and a duty to live up to. She called on her supporters not to allow themselves to be fooled by politicians who she said, cannot offer Liberia anything, thereby dissipating their future.

Added Sirleaf: “I am happy for every one of you, because you have contributed to the peace we are enjoying today. I am proud of you because you made a decision that you have not regretted. I promise you all that what I have stated will be completed.” Smiling and dancing, Sirleaf mocked her opposition, saying: “Let ugly baboon wait small, baboon still working. This country must not be placed in the hands of those who can contribute and will contribute nothing to our people.”

Jehovah’s Witness Campaign

Cllr. Varney B. Sherman, leader of the ruling party declared that his party will carry on its campaign like the Jehovah witnesses. “We will move from door to door, we will move from house to house. From every loop and corner of this country to spread the message that a redeemed Liberia.

Six years back what we did we will do even more! When our President won the elections in 2005 she promised to unite our country and bring us together, today she has done just that.” Sherman said in a strong tone, followed by a thunderous applause from the over 2000 supporters who flocked the compound. Sherman said if he had not believed that Madam Sirleaf was the best option for Liberia, he would not have come over to the publicly declare support for her.

“Look at a man like me, look at me, if I did not believe that madam Sirleaf was able to lead this country I would not have come to the UP. If a man like me who is able to stand on my own can give support to the madam, what’s about those who weak and looking for it; you belle follow.” The UP Chairman said.

Cletus Wotorson, a key hold over from the Liberian Action Party merger with the ruling party, was full of confidence as he spoke of a demolition derby of the opposition. Wotorson, the President Pro Temp of the Senate told a cheering crowd:

“This election will be the final close-up for the opposition block. We will demolish the opposition block this elections, like the way the children of Israel did with the walls of Jericho. One round, we will give them one round. No second round! Cause Unity Party knows how to win.” The Liberian senate Pro Temp boasted.