By Lincoln G. Peters
Africa-Press – Liberia. Questions are beginning to mount here whether outgoing President George Manneh Weah is sincere about his pronounced retirement from seeking further presidential ambition, just about a month after he lost his re-election bid.
Some Liberians are wondering if President Weah and his ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) are not smartly tricking would-be desperate politicians to shoulder the CDC’s financial burden and later dumb them nearing the 2029 presidential election.
The CDC is not new to opposition life. Its most favored presidential candidate since 2005 arguably remains Mr. Weah.
A lot of seasoned politicians have tried to collaborate and even sought to head the CDC’s presidential ticket, but Cllr. Winston Tubman was so far the only candidate who managed to head the CDC ticket in 2011 when Weah settled down for the running mate slot.
It seems to some Liberians that Mr. Weah remains the political strong face of the CDC in a quest for a serious presidential election battle.
Announcing his retirement from contesting presidential elections while he is still energetic could leave more doubts in the minds of Liberians about whether this isn’t a potential gameplay to trick whoever thinking that Weah won’t return for the next presidential election.
Upon his inauguration in January 2018, a lot of top CDCians boasted that the ruling party would have ruled Liberia for 24 years.
They later changed the argument to compulsory re-election of Mr. Weah and his CDC government in the 2023 polls to rule for 12 years, claiming that the CDC regime did more than previous governments did.
But the ruling party lost the presidential run-off election in November against the opposition Unity Party headed by Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai and suddenly Mr. Weah retires from seeking presidential ambition.
Immediately after the CDC’s presidential defeat, reports emerged that some of its executives were considering business executive-turned-politician Alexander B. Cummings to take over the party.
Cummings heads the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) which is made up of his Alternative National Congress (ANC) and a faction of Liberty Party (LP).
In a recent statement, Mr. Weah announced his early retirement from politics in the country while reacting to a revelation by one of his members at his Folky Klon Jlaleh Family Fellowship Church in Paynesville.
The revelation had to do with his long service in the Liberian Presidency and the construction of a grave for slain Liberian President Samuel K. Doe.
Mr. Weah said the revaluation was good, but he believes it’s not for him, but rather the incoming government to do so.
According to President Weah, he has no intention of being in politics until his 70-80 years old because he needs to give himself, his family, children, and grandchildren his time.
“At certain times Liberians will be convinced. They will know that I’m older, I can’t perform certain duties when am old,” he said.
“And what you [are] talking about, a few years from now, I’m 57 now, and our retirement age is sixty-five. Six years from now, I will be sixty-three. And so, I can’t work for two years,” Weah continued.
“You are not going to drag me into politics until I reach 90 years,” President Weah stated.
He noted that he will be thinking about his children and grandchildren and how to give them his time.
The outgoing Liberian President further indicated that the best thing he can do now is to promote peace and prosperity for Liberia, adding that nobody is going to drag him into politics for longer.
“We are not chasing politics. We pray to God to serve, that’s why I serve as President. Whether it’s one time or fifty times, I can guarantee you it’s one time,” said Mr. Weah.
“One time because I [have] broken undisputed records. In Liberia, people feel that I could be there for 90 to 100 years, while children are growing up. I have to give them a chance,” he continued.
“If you are looking for me on that trust me, I can’t,” he added.
President Weah explained that ‘parents’ who were in politics when he was young, are in their 80s and still running behind politics.
He said he was one year old when his uncle was in politics, and today his uncle can’t walk but he is still chasing politics.
He further explained that he doesn’t come to politics to high jack politics, rather, he came to politics to make a mark.
“Maybe you can say he came to politics to prove something. Well, I can say yes. Because some people say that we are insignificant people and I proved them wrong and say it just that we never had the possibility and opportunity that you had,” Weah argued.
“Every possibility that we had we made use of it,” he stated.
He noted that his revelation is a very good thing that is significant, but he has done his part that’s why he constructed the PHP Park to bring unity.
The Liberian leader noted that the PHP Park is intended to preach unity, peace, and togetherness, and it sets the historical foundation for Liberia’s peace and stability.
Mr. Weah noted that if Liberians don’t foster peace, the country is likely to go back to where it was.
“When we get older, there are certain things that we can’t do because the Bible says, the old things had passed away.”
“Nobody should force me in that area o.”
Source: Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia,
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