Liberia: “Give Us the Same 12 Years You Gave Ellen”

President George M. Weah has called on Liberians to do the CDC the same favor they did for the former ruling UP, by giving him a second term.

“We are calling on you, the Liberian people, to give our government the same twelve years [you] gave to UP under Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,” Weah said.

He urged Liberians not to vote for Unity Party’s candidate, former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, due to what Weah describes as Boakai’s inability to develop himself for the 40 years spent in government.

“Boakai was Minister of Agriculture, Director of Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company, and even in his 12 years as Vice President, you can't see anything from him because he is not associated with development,” Weah told partisans and supporters at rally in District #10. 

Weah opined that development is not associated with Boakai, who is his (Weah’s) closest rival in the presidential race, and that giving him state power will yield nothing but failure.

“Boakai needs to give me the chance to take care of him, and this is something that I have been doing, but Boakai is not honest. This is the young people’s time. Let us make sure we protect this country and build this country,” said Weah, who turns 57 in October.

Weah made these remarks on Thursday, August 10, as he continues his 2023 campaign activities in Montserrado County districts #9 & #10 in Monrovia. Yesterday’s political rallies were marred by clashes between ruling party supporters and partisans of the Unity Party.

Weah also threw jabs at the former VP when he [Weah], kicked off his campaign activities on Tuesday, August 8, saying that  Boakai failed to develop the Rehab community where they both resided when he was vice president. “It was until I took over before we started giving the community a facelift. We paved the roads and brought electricity for our people,” he said.

“I was a political leader for the CDC, and we live in Rehab and the place was muddy but today, the place is developed. I am doing what I am doing to develop our country,” Weah boasted. 

According to him, this is the time for the young people, and therefore called on Liberians, especially first time voters to seize the opportunity to vote for him. 

Weah alleged that there was a meeting held with him, Boakai, and former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf where the two elderly people agreed to leave the country with the young people, “but Boakai still continued to seek the presidency.”

He told supporters that he did nothing for the Liberian people, and they voted for him in 2017, and today he has done so much that he knows they will still vote for him again.

“There's no fixer, we are the real fixers because I am doing my best to make your environment the best, and they are saying they want to come fix and rescue. They can’t come back because they have nothing to do or offer to Liberia,” Weah said, referring to Boakai and Alexander B. Cummings of the opposition Collaborating Political Parties. 

“If they tell you that building roads and hospitals is nothing, what are they coming to do? Today we are here, and Liberia is safe for everyone after they told you that when UNMIL leaves, Liberia will not be safe for everyone,” Weah said. 

According to him, he wants to make sure that this country is developed, stating “what I am doing is for you and don't allow anyone to take it away from you.” 

“You gave me this responsibility six years ago to build this country, and I am doing it well. When I was trying to build the military hospital, people said that I didn't make sense. They were just talking and after building the hospital, Coronavirus came and this is the hospital that saved the people,” he said.

Calling on CDC supporters to reject Yekeh Kolubah 

Weah told supporters and partisans not to vote for Yekeh, who is always insulting him and his family members instead of helping to develop the district.

Weah said if Yekeh cannot tell the people of his district how he will build the community but only insult people, they should reject him and, instead, elect CDC candidate Josephine Davies.

“I called the young man and told him not to insult me or my people. I am asking you if you want development in this place, vote Josephine Davies or bring people that are responsible to develop this place,” Weah said. 

According to him, CDC candidate Josephine Davies will help residents of District #10 to develop because she’s connected to the CDC government.

Meanwhile, Weah has assured residents of Peace Island of they own the land they currently occupy.

“I am going to the Liberia Land Authority to tell them that this is public land and those squatting are Liberians, and therefore, we must give the land to them,” Weah said.

According to him, his position to ensure that the land is given to them is not because of campaigns, and will make sure they are owners of the land.