Former President Goodluck Jonathan has praised Liberian President George Weah’s display of statesmanship in conceding loss to opposition Leader Joseph Boakai during the recently ended presidential election.
After calculating the votes from more than 99 percent of polling places, the electoral commission of Liberia declared that Boakai had 50.89 percent of the vote while Weah had 49.11 percent.
Jonathan expressed his satisfaction with the conclusion of Liberia’s democratic process in a tweet on Saturday with the subject line “Liberia wins, Democracy gains.”
The former Nigerian leader commended Weah for accepting defeat and congratulating his opponent ahead of the official declaration.
The tweet partly read, “I am also particularly grateful to the outgoing President, His Excellency George Weah, who has just conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent even ahead of the official declaration of the final result by the National Election Commission of Liberia.
“By doing this, President Weah has exhibited an exemplary display of statesmanship and commitment to the peace and progress of his country.”
Read Also:
He also urged Boakai to be “magnanimous in victory and seek to continue the efforts to unite and advance his country.”
Jonathan led the West African Elders Forum (@TheWAEF) Mediation Mission to both the October 10, 2023, general elections and the November 14, 2023, Presidential run-off poll in Liberia,
He noted that the win and the peaceful election process was a plus for democracy and the West African regional bloc – the Economic Community of West African States.
“I am delighted that at the end of the exercise, Liberia wins, democracy gains and our sub-region, ECOWAS, is better for it,” he stated.
Under the previous president, Ellen Sirleaf—the first elected female African head of state—Boakai held the position of vice president for 12 years.
When the 78-year-old is sworn in in January 2024, he will formally begin serving as president.
In 2018, Weah, a former professional football player, was elected president of Liberia.
He is the only African-born head of state who was previously a professional football player.
