Following his return from Sanniquillie, Nimba County where the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) hosted its 58th anniversary, Maxwell Johnson, a Vice Presidential Aspirant has declined from contest in the PUL forthcoming election slated for November 2023.
Mr. Johnson said this decision to withdraw from the PUL election stands for the opportunity in the future, considered to continue his educational sojourn with the utmost focus to concentrate on what he would endeavor to do.
He disclosed that there are other adventures he would want to take on that he wishes not to disclose now.
Johnson: "On September 22, 2021, I made a declaration on my Facebook page about my intention to contest as Vice President in the pending Press Union of Liberia election slated for November this year and since that declaration, I have continued to receive massive endorsements from media colleagues across the country, which I whole heartedly welcomed".
He narrated that one of such endorsement meetings where at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), as he was overwhelmingly assured by my colleagues of their unconditional support for my candidacy and up to date he still enjoyed such support from LBS without doubt.
Mr. Johnson however, said "Team Maxwell Johnson" began to move on with the anticipation of him becoming the next PUL Vice president, but there have been some new developments that have come into play.
Addressing a news conference Tuesday in Paynesville, he these developments may not be any obstacles to prevent me from winning as Vice President, but when elected they could slow down my quest to serve the union with the passion he has to serve.
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"Therefore, in view of the foregone, I am very constrained to state that I am withdrawing my ambition to contest the pending PUL Election as Vice President" Mr. Johnson stated.
He used the press conference to sincerely apologize to all of his colleagues and supporters who were ready and convinced to elect him as PUL Vice President but said It is his hope that in subsequent years, he may come forward ready and better prepared to serve the Press Union of Liberia even at a more important level and pledged his unflinching support to the Daniel Nyankonah, for the PUL Presidency, who is Union's current Vice President.
Johnson: "In this same vain, let me say I strongly believed in the abilities of the two gentlemen who have opted to contest the PUL Presidency in persons of incumbent Vice President, Daniel Nyankonah and former PUL Assistant Secretary General, Julius Kanubah. The two are brilliant young men who in their own capacities have in the past and are now continuing to positively contribute to the PUL".
He further mentioned that he strongly believed that the PUL needs a robust reform that would transform it into a more vibrant entity but reforms in the PUL must be systematic and not egotistic on the mere basis that somebody has served the union for a long time, so he must be replaced.
Johnson emphasized that the PUL is evolving and so members need to firstly find out what is it that need to change and how as professional people will embark on such change.
So far, Maxwell Johnson was the only member of the Press Union of Liberia, who was aspiring to contest for the Vice Presidency of the Union.
