I can bring about change. The people have spoken and their voices must be heard,

not about my popularity. People have been supporting me since my childhood. They are supporting me because they want a change not about my popularity.

This is a very good day, this is the day people are exercising their democratic right ... they are doing it for the first time without fear,

These elections should be about the issues that confront our people, the issue of lack of safe drinking water, electricity, roads, education, agriculture, health care and the plight of our young people, and re-integration of ex-combatants. These are the issues that we must deliberate on.

Around 80% of Liberians are unemployed and only half of all children go to primary school. Just one in 20 go on to secondary school. Young children are on the streets instead of in the classrooms. We are not giving them the opportunity to learn and they will struggle to get jobs when they grow up.

I can see in your eyes, I can see in your faces, I can see you cry. But what I want to say, there's no reason to cry. Do not, in the name of peace, go in the streets and riot.