By Olando Testimony Zeongar
LIBERIA – The JNB Tact Team has responded to Nobel Laureate Leymah Roberta Gbowee, terming as disingenuous, her outburst against former Vice President and Standard Bearer of the Unity Party, Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai.
Recently, Gbowee took to social media calling on the Unity Party to according to her, “do the right thing” by allowing JNB to retire from politics and concentrate on his health.
But, the JNB Tact Team, in a statement issued Monday, 16 January 2023, under the signature of its National Chairperson, Telia Urey, lamented that it was appalled by Gbowee’s recent assertions, asking ex-Vice President Boakai to step aside from politics due to his health and age.
Madam Urey noted that the Tact Team finds as disingenuous, such a statement emanating from a woman who is supposed to be a symbol of peace, dignity, and unity.
“We advise Madame Gbowee to find a more dignified way to express herself without flagrant and unnecessary disrespect to the former Vice President,” the Tact Team warned.
The JNB Tact Team admonished Gbowee, a social worker and an advocate of peace that if she would like to enter politics in Liberia and position herself as a serious political actor, she should rather focus on the myriad of issues the country is currently faced with instead of attacking Joe Boakai, who the group referred to as a reputable statesman, just to get attention and media coverage.
“We are well aware that Madame Gbowee is doing the political bidding for a certain opposition figure whose chances of winning the presidency are close to zero,” said Madam Urey, who in the Tact Team’s statement said her group was using the occasion to warn the Nobel Laureate to immediately desist from what she (Telia) described as deceptive antics that have the propensity to destroy her (Gbowee’s) image.
“We would also like to draw the public’s attention to Madame Gbowee’s silence on the rampant killings and violence that the country has been faced with over the years under the George Weah-led government,” Telia emphasized, adding that it baffles the Tact Team and many other Liberians why Gbowee has not used her voice to champion these causes, considering her claimed position as a “voice of reason.”
The Tact Team stated that Madame Gbowee’s attention should instead also be drawn to the numerous rape cases and attacks on women in politics in Liberia over the past years under the Weah administration.
“Her silence on these attacks and the overall violence against women should be of deep concern to the world. Sadly, we hear her loudly today launching political attacks on national leaders and doing the usual “politicking,” the Tact Team added.
The JNB Tact Team pointed out that to strengthen the advocacy for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court for Liberia, a voice as strong as Gbowee’s is needed, adding that there is a need for the former Peace Ambassador to raise her voice on grave issues threatening the peace of the country instead of playing politics with the health of former Vice President Boakai.
“Leymah Gbowee should be reminded that age is not a curse, for which one should be excluded from leadership, but it is a source of experience and wisdom needed to govern a nation like Liberia in these critical times,” the JNB Tact Team averred.
The Tact Team disclosed that it finds it very hypocritical that people like Gbowee will celebrate the election of U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders who are older than Ambassador Boakai, but will talk down to their own, who has been an honest and dedicated public servant his entire life.
“We will also like to remind Leymah Gbowee that Ambassador Boakai has been the lead proponent for opposition unity. He spearheaded the formation of the CPP and has been the voice of reason within the opposition community. Should Madame Gbowee want to join these efforts to unite the opposition, we suggest she comes out and state her political interest and intentions,” the Tact Team stressed.
The Tact Team noted that Liberia is reeling from the backlashes of bad governance and is at the brink of being a pariah state under the Weah administration, adding that what’s needed now is serious leadership and not the usual politics to free the country from the Weah-led government, which the group described as a kleptocratic regime.
The Tact Team then asserted that Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai will deliver such change needed for the country, and that the group welcomes Madame Gbowee to join ranks in this quest to save Liberia.
The danger in politics is how interests are managed. Madam Bowes’s concern is legitimate. It is glaring that former V.P. Boakai is faced with the reality that age and health are opposed to his current political ambition, not just for 2023, but for even the years to follow. Notwithstanding, there are political parasites that are will to push him over the cliff if it means that will get to land political office at his expense. Madam Bowee is not looking for relevance. In fact, Madam Bowee is more than a global figure than former V.P. Boakai, just so we are clear.
This is problem with having a single plan. UP is fighting tooth and nail to keep the Boakai comedy show alive, but for how long? A presidential campaign cannot be run from the comfort of one’s bedroom; it must be run on the road. Other candidates are on the road already. When is Boakia joining?