A Patriot’s Diary
With Ekena Nyankun Juahgbe-Droh Wesley
Outgoing President, George Manneh Weah had committed a cardinal sin – politically! He betrayed the masses who overwhelmingly voted for him. Ironically, many Liberian pundits would rhetorically ask: “How did we get here?” Simply put, there was an election. George Weah won 14 counties out of 14. Was it an electoral Tsunami? Students of electoral history will someday reveal the compelling evidence.
Weah’s staunchest critics remain Liberians based in the Diaspora – whether the United States, Europe or Canada. They remained vehemently at odds with the former soccer star’s peculiar governance strategy. Greed had consumed the new leaders led by Weah. They saw the government as a place to experiment. They plundered the national treasury. Looted indiscriminately! Surely, they will be remembered as the epicenter for the worst political experiment in the small West African nation. Huh!
Amongst Diaspora-based Liberians are the brightest minds and skills needed for a transformative leadership. Do we have a data bank of such critical human resource potentials? If not, there should be every compelling reason to build that reservoir. The country needs all of its best and enlightened human capital resources for national development.
Liberians in the Diaspora unarguably stood towering from an era of so-called “Change for Hope” to one of what has come to be Joseph Boakai’s ARREST Agenda. Diaspora folks were tucked in sleepless nights amid the demanding and stressful labor preoccupation in the West to ensure Weah’s madness came to an end.
Diaspora Liberians variously mobilized moral, financial, social, political support, accelerated advocacy networks and aligned alliances and coalition fortresses to make Weah a sad political history. Diaspora Liberians took their country’s political campaign to another level never heard off in the nation’s more than 176 years history.
Lest we forget, Weah and his so-called comrades fought fiercely! But the will of the people to unseat him democratically was unstoppable! Weah conceded in an early statement by congratulating the man he defeated in 2017 – following a run-off. Then candidate Joseph Boakai graciously conceded defeat.
Politics, they say, is the art of the possible! More so, isn’t it all about interest? Diaspora Liberians indeed wanted Weah sent packing. They succeeded! What did they want in return? While some might say – for the greater good of the country – there are those who crave for a place at the table or for a better expression – a piece of the pie.
President Boakai started in earnest – forming his government amid a slim inclusion of proponents of the Alliance that rallied the UP in the second round. Conversely, the overwhelming support of Diaspora Liberians that occasioned the campaign ironically made little conspicuous presence in the new UP-led government’s formation.
Are folks in the Diaspora happy? Yes and No! Those who advanced the cause for the great good, it would seem are not interested in government jobs. For those who see politics as one of interest believe otherwise. There should be no need for political nagging! The government is still being formed – except for folks eyeing big cum fat government jobs. Should it be about fat government jobs of service to the country?
Cllr. Tiawon Saye Gongloe will continue to be right! “Government is a place to serve not to steal or get rich!” He was on the ballot! Liberians didn’t give a damn about his philosophy of probity, the rule of law, and accountability! Vexed! Disenchanted or betrayed, Diaspora Liberians have a duty not to ask the small West African nation what it can do for them but what they can selflessly do for their motherland.
