Ex-Lawmaker Yealue Urges Nimbaians to Preserve “Unity in Diversity,” Credits Weah For Democratic Gains and Warns of Threats to Civil Liberties

GANTA, Nimba County — Former Nimba County District Four Representative, Cllr. Garrison Yealue, has urged the people of Nimba to preserve Nimba’s Tradition of “unity in diversity ”and praised former President George Manneh Weah’s democratic record and warned against partisan exclusion and arbitrary law enforcement.

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By Franklin Doloquee / Nimba County

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Speaking on Radio Kergheamahn 94.5 FM, Cllr. Yealue said Nimba has been strengthened by broad political inclusion rather than loyalty to a single party.

“Nimba’s biggest weapon has always been unity in diversity,” he said, urging citizens to resist efforts that concentrate power within a narrow group and to protect the county’s pluralist political culture.

He lauded former President Weah for strengthening democracy, citing laws passed during his administration, including the Freedom of Information Act and amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code.

He also praised Weah for peacefully accepting electoral defeat.

“He was the first president who passed the KAK Act, the Freedom of Speech and Information Act,” Cllr. Yealue said, adding that Weah “gracefully accepted the result and strengthened our democracy.”

Cllr. Yealue criticized recent government practices and legislation he said threaten civil liberties and media freedom.

He singled out provisions of the cybercrime law and a new Section 28, which he said would allow the Ministry of Justice to seize phones and laptops without timely judicial oversight.

“We will challenge the constitutionality of Section 28 in the Supreme Court,” he stated.

On local governance and development, the former lawmaker accused the administration of President Josep Nyumh Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung of failing to direct promised resources to Nimba despite national budget growth.

He questioned how the government’s reported one-billion-dollar budget has improved ordinary Liberians’ lives in the county and argued that revenue-sharing laws have not been respected.

“Where is the money? Where is the achievement for Nimba?” he asked.

He said he practices cross-party solidarity at the local level, providing free legal services to officials and assisting constituents regardless of affiliation.

“I did not do it for money; I did it because I love Nimba,” he intimated, stressing that unity should not become favoritism or transactional politics.

Responding to critics who call his stance divisive, the former head of the Governance Commission (GC) pointed out that his aim is reconciliation and inclusion. “Before you build a house you must set a strong foundation, ours is unity in diversity,” he asserted, warning young people against abandoning elders and tradition for short-term political gains.

On the prospect of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) returning to power, he argued that Nimba would benefit from having qualified members of different parties in strategic government positions rather than concentrating loyalty in a single party.

He urged residents to pursue positions based on capacity and qualifications rather than party allegiance.

Cllr. Yealue also said a leading opposition figure’s planned return to national politics aims to reshape laws that affect ordinary Liberians.

“He’s coming back to pass more laws that impact your life,” Cllr. Yealue said, warning that rollbacks to the Freedom of Information Act, revenue-sharing, and other reforms could weaken democratic protections and local autonomy.

He discussed development priorities, saying an opposition return could expand projects begun earlier, including upgrading roads to better serve communities.

He criticized leaders who claim credit for development yet fail to deliver promised benefits to hometowns. “If he had won, I would have been looking for resources for my hometown,” he said, averring that communities frequently miss out despite large national budgets.

Recalling his experience as deputy campaign manager for the CDC in Nimba, Cllr. Yealue accused some ruling-party tactics of aiming to consolidate control of counties rather than genuinely serving them. “Their technique is to control power in Nimba, not to help people, but to control us after they win,” he said, referencing the CDC’s 2020 victory.

He concluded by urging Nimbaians to remain engaged, defend democratic rights and work across party lines to secure jobs, development, and political representation for the county.

Calls to the opposition figure named in the interview were not immediately returned.