Weah Meets Ellen, The ‘Political Veteran’

-As Tension Intensifies In Liberia, Discuss National Issues; Despite Mulbah Morlu Allegation That the Former President is Sponsoring June 7 Protest

As tension mounts on President George Manneh Weah from all corners of the Liberian society, he has held discussions with former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who is described at home and abroad as the ‘political veteran’ and Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for what political pundits considered as ‘guidance.’

Since taking over the mantle of authority from the then Liberian leader, President Weah continues to face lots of challenges ranging from allegations of missing L$16billion, looting the country’s coffers for the construction of personal homes, high exchange rate, especially the US dollar to the Liberian dollar, suffocation of the economy, the  impending June 7 massive protest by aggrieved Liberians among others.

The allegations of violating existing laws of the country have been some of the issues embarrassing the Liberian leader since his ascendancy to the highest seat in the land. The Weah’s government has also been accused of massive corruption among others.

The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) headed by Rev. Kortu Brown has called on Liberians and the public in general to remain calm and engage in orderly manner.

The National Council of Chiefs and Elders has also taken keen notice of the tension in the country and also called for calm

The Liberian leader according to insiders has been finding amicable means in resolving these tensions mounting on him from all sides and as such; contacted former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to discuss major issues that will ease the tension on his government.

Why Ellen?

Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf made history as Africa’s first elected female president, but also faced accusations of corruption and nepotism. However, she was able to overcome some of those hurdles facing the country that came from 14-year of bloody civil conflict.

Despite all this, Mrs. Sirleaf was a history-maker. Her presidency was riddled with corruption and nepotism, but she proved to the world that a woman can dismantle the male-controlled seat of power.

The former Liberian leader is not a warm, cozy character and she certainly didn’t focus on women alone during her 12 years in power. However, the Harvard-trained economist did erase nearly US$5bn (£3.2bn) in devastating foreign debt after three years of being in office, paving the way for foreign investment and boosting the annual government budget from US$80m to US$516m by 2011 and US$620m in her final year as President of the country.

Knowing the worth of experience and how she overcome challenges she faced more than him, President Weah over the weekend continued his endeavor to open his administration to diverse views and counsels from a broad-spectrum of the national mosaic by welcoming and hosting his immediate past predecessor, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, at his Foreign Ministry office where both statespersons discussed a range of critical national issues.

According to an Executive Mansion release, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf paid the Liberian leader a courtesy visit to share perspectives on prevailing developments in the country; how to sustain the gains made over the years and to preserve the democratic space.

President Weah emphasized his government’s commitment to promoting national development, peace, reconciliation, unity and growth at every sector of the Liberian society.

President Weah assured his predecessor that he would continue regular dialogues with eminent persons as well as ordinary Liberians as a way of ensuring that every citizen’s view is factored in his governance agenda.

The visit of the former President comes two days following a similar courtesy call on President Weah by former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai.

Mulbah Morlu’s Allegations that Madam Sirleaf sponsoring the June 7 protest.

Recently, the chairman of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Mulbah Morlu accused former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of being behind the looming June 7 protest by civil society and opposition political parties.
Morlu earlier accused the opposition community including political leaders Alexander Cummings (ANC), Benoni Urey (ALP), and former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai (UP), among others of masterminding the planned protest.

On May 1, 2019, Morlu accused former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of supporting the protesters in revenge for her son, Charles Sirleaf, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, who was jailed by the Weah administration for his role in the L$16 billion saga.

Morlu further said “former President Sirleaf is fighting back on grounds that the government had indicted her beloved son, and she is now using every power and contact available to her to fight the Weah government.”

Meanwhile, Liberians and political pundits believe that the meeting with the former president and vice president by President George Weah has proven the CDC’s chairman wrong over his latest allegations against them.