GREENVILLE, Sinoe –  As Liberians gear up to vote in the pending senatorial elections in October this year, the former county coordinator of the Liberia Institute for Statistic and Geo-Information Services, Alexander Nah Slewion, has announced his intentions to contest the seat currently held by Sen. Augustine Chea.

Speaking to The Bush Chicken on Thursday, Feb. 27 in Greenville, the 42-year-old senatorial aspirant said it was time for a leader his age and preparedness to occupy a bigger position in the county’s politics at the level of the Liberian Senate.

“Our intention to contest is not about riding [in] big cars and having money in my pocket. Instead, it is to change from the perception and notion people have that leadership belongs to the oldest ones, something we hope to correct,” he said.

Slewion said the 71-year-old Sen. Chea’s tenure has been waste of time because the lawmaker lacks the ability to meet the responsibilities of a senator.

“People should be elected based on what they are capable of doing, and not about tribal and party line. Rest assured, we can make the difference in our own county, Sinoe,” he said.

Slewion said for Liberia to move forward, young people must be given the opportunity and chance to lead and steer the affairs of national leadership by occupying key positions of trust.

As his own way of unofficially introducing his candidacy, since the National Elections Commission has not officially announced the candidate nomination period, Slewion verbally outlined his platform. This included greater accountability and transparency in legislative duties, education and health, peace and agriculture, as well as women empowerment.

He called on his compatriots of Sinoe to join ranks with him in order to experience what he termed “a major boost in county and national transformation.”

The senate aspirant noted one of his major contributions to the county over the past years, where over 50 students attending public and private schools are currently benefiting from his personal scholarship program. He said he had also donated microscopes, notebooks, and other instructional materials to over nine high schools in Sinoe.

“Hopefully by June this year, my American-based partners will be in Sinoe following nearly two years of engagements with them to launch an educational foundation that will provide technical and vocational education to youth and elders who feel that they are being denied of basic learning opportunities in the county,” he told The Bush Chicken.

Featured photo by Teahwleh Clarke Geeplay