A Patriot’s Diary
With Ekena Nyankun Juahgbe-Droh Wesley
Liberia’s George Manneh Weah has emerged historically as the most controversial political figure in the small West African nation. Weah has turned politics into a circus as it were. The man dubbed – “from pole to pole” on the field of play was at it recently just immediately after recommitting to the Farmington declaration in Monrovia he misguidedly opted to throw jibes at a member of the opposition. Former Information Minister and now political leader of the Rainbow Coalition, Reginald Goodridge was at the receiving end.
President Weah sought to grotesquely pull the legs of Goodridge – suggesting that it was ironic that Goodridge as a member of Charles Taylor’s despotic regime could be breathing a sigh of relief in a democracy under his watch. Why would President Weah want to take credit for a democracy has no idea about. What is Weah’s history in the pro-democracy struggle in Liberia? But the dust has settled and we can understand the emergence of pseudo political prophets and doomsday advocates.
The historic nature of the Farmington Declaration did not call for President Weah’s jibes. Weah’s predecessor, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had hoped she would have done more on the reconciliation front. As a politician, Weah should have taken cue from the former President’s frank admission to make a break from the past. Weah’s outburst following the signing of the Farmington Declaration was anti-conciliatory.
Yes, we breathe an aura of peace but such peace remains fragile as it were. Healing the wounds after 14 years of carnage remains an imperative. As national leader, Weah is expected to lead by example; as such he is expected to take up the mantle and rally the nation towards soul-searching and genuine reconciliation and sustainable peace.
Whatever President Weah’s version of history under former President Charles Taylor – to suggest that Reginald Goodridge planned and unscrupulously executed the looting of Weah’s now lavishly refurbished 9th Street residence as well as Commandeering of his personal vehicle – it is mind-boggling that – the Liberian leader who made no appearance before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), like many Liberians did, would have the courage to disdainfully attack the Rainbow Coalition’s political leader before the full glare of the public.
Ironically, President Weah who has largely presided over the country as a ‘Bobo President’ wants to be seen to be sowing the seed of discord in an election year when he should be exemplary by every stretch of imagination. But opposition leader, Reginald Goodridge did not allow the matter to lay bare. He fired back at President Weah with full force. He warned that amid scores of unexplained politically motivated deaths, President Weah’s utterances amounted to license to kill. In an FPA banner headline, the presidential press secretary termed his boss’ comments as a reflection of the truth.
If indeed democracy is alive as President Weah has opined – it is a system that bespeaks a coloration of ‘give and take.’ If President Weah is convinced that Goodridge is an alleged perpetrator of the crimes he is being accused of, there is a recourse – the court must adjudicate whatever the matter. That way, democracy will truly be seen to be alive. No uncivilized means should be invoked to settle disputes in a democratic civilization.
