MARSHALL, Margibi – Former Central Bank Governor Mills Jones says he will make a formal declaration of his political ambition this week.

Jones made the statement last week at his residence when he was petitioned by a group under the banner of United Liberians Concerned for the Future to contest for the Liberian presidency next year.

According to the group, Jones is best suited to replace President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. It said his invaluable services to the country and its citizens, especially as Governor of the Central Bank, is proof of his qualification for the nation’s highest office.

In a petition read by the group’s Secretary General Susan Dakhuon, the United Liberians Concerned for the Future named microloans for market women and empowerment of business organizations as some of Jones’ contributions.

“We the United Liberians Concerned for the Future comprising of grassroots and community-based organizations and self-supportive do assemble here to seek your invaluable service for the common good of our country,” the statement said.

The group said it sees the 2017 elections as a determining moment to redeem the country and its people from sufferings and bad leadership.

It meanwhile believes that Jones is the only one capable of bringing about the needed changes and results to positively impact the Liberian people.

Jones thanked the group for trusting in his ability to lead but promised to respond to their petition when he addresses the nation this week.

“I will be speaking to the Liberian nation next week, and everyone will have the opportunity to hear what I have to say,” be disclosed.

Although he did not make any official pronouncements on whether he will contest, Jones vowed to triumph over his opponents.

He disclosed there are people trying to damage his image, adding, “They will fall.”

“I am not moved by those who believe that they have the power to determine the fate of an individual. I am not moved by them and I want to say clearly today that they can talk as much as they wish, they can hold meetings as much as they want, they can have sleepless night as much as they wish, they can go to the international community and try to spoil my name there – failing to know that every government has a friend and when they talk – I hear it too,” he said.

He added, “They can try as much as they want to try to subvert the constitution of this country, they will fail if it is not God’s will.”

Should Jones decide to run, his campaign would face legal hurdles. The Legislature voted in 2014 to amend several sections of the CBL Act, with section 17 of the amended act stating, “The Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia and members of the Board of Governors shall be prohibited to contest political office(s) while serving in the respective offices and shall not be qualified to contest any electable office within three years consecutive after the expiration of their tenure and in his/her resignation from the Central Bank of Liberia.”

The move by lawmakers followed wild debates over whether the CBL Governor was using the national reserve to dish out millions of dollars to small-scale traders in the country for political reasons.

Jones resigned from the Central Bank barely a month to the end of his second five years term as Executive Governor.

Featured photo by Lloyd Massah