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What
does George Weah have to offer?
Friday,
October 07, 2005
By
Ramses Nah
Recently, there have been several
articles published on-line in regards to the
qualification of George Weah as a presidential
candidate in the upcoming Liberian elections. Mr. Weah
has been denigrated for his lack of formal education,
especially post-high school academics.
Well, I know of
nothing in the Liberian constitution that prohibits
him from seeking the office of the presidency based on
that standard. If I read it right, the constitution
states only that one should be a ‘natural born
citizen, of at least 35 years of age, a resident of
the Republic for 10 years.' The constitution does not
mandate a college degree in any shape or form as a
prerequisite.
Moreover, having a college or
post-high school degree is not a guarantee for being a
moral, honest, transparent and a successful leader.
And yes let’s be honest, George Weah is not an
educated man, but that is beside the point. What
really matters is having a presidential aspirant with
high moral character, integrity, honesty, and a darn
good political platform. Moreover, the individual must
be a patriot! Not one who is selfishly seeking only
his or her personal agenda.
What Mr. Weah has exemplified,
despite his shortcomings as a human being despite his
lack of a formal education is more than that which has
been done by the so-called average Liberian
politician. While Mr. Weah personally committed
himself to specifically the Liberian National Lone
Star football team and other institutions, his reward
was the ransacking of his personal residence and
property. Moreover, politicians who are culpable in
the destruction of Liberia have personally enriched
themselves through the destruction of the country.
The questions to be asked are:
What does Mr. Weah have to offer that no other
politician can? Does George have the intelligence to
decipher the vast array of problems and information
needed to successfully run a moral, corrupt-less,
government and employ individuals of high moral and
academic background?
Politicians in the republic have
over the many years demonstrated their inability to
effectively and efficiently govern. What has obsessed
politician is not the mechanics of putting into place
strong institutions that can live after they have
departed, but rather personal enrichment, greed,
corruption and abuse of power.
A George Weah presidency
will be the beginning of the end of the old order.
This is what they are afraid of and will fight 'tooth
and nail' to maintain the status quo. If George were
successful, a new generation of individuals would
emerge. Whether or not they would bring meaningful
ideas and have the experience, temperament and
wherewithal for the job is another issue. Or whether
they will be the new generation of thieves and
scoundrels,' perpetuating the examples of their
forefathers in ruining the country is another matter.
On the other hand, a George Weah
presidency could be a challenge, and would be no
different from that of Samuel Doe, Charles Taylor and
Gyude Bryant if he continues to court politicians such
as Messrs. Baccus Matthews, J. Rudolph Johnson and
Emmanuel Shaw, remnants of the Charles Taylor and
Samuel Doe administrations, as well as Samuel Wlue,
the ‘Preacher-turned Master Con Man’
in Gyude Bryant’s inept and corrupt administration.
So far Mr. Weah has demonstrated
that he is not ready for the job. As much as I have
read, I have seen no articulated platform for his
candidacy. Moreover, the caliber of individuals that
are running towards Mr. Weah and his camp, signifies
his inexperience and lack of vision. At the moment,
Mr. Weah is solely relying on his football popularity
to propel himself. However, with this popularity, he
has allowed his poor judgment to bring into his fold
individuals of ill-repute who have raped the country
either in the Samuel Doe of Charles Taylor’s
administration. Now, every ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’
or using Liberian names, ‘Yakpawolo, Nagbe and Flomo’
are now jumping on the gravy train they think will
win. Failing to recognize this, Mr. Weah has committed
the first failure of his candidacy.
In order to be a successful
leader, Mr. Weah will have to rid himself of all his
football baggage, i.e., football friends and
entourage. Secondly, Weah must state unequivocally to
the Liberian people that he is not the answer to their
problem, but a facilitator in finding solutions to
their problems. Third, Weah must not encourage
constant personal begging from individuals. Fourth,
Weah must surround himself with capable and educated
individuals who have exhibited some sense of
nationalism and patriotism. Partnering with
individuals who are learned and with high moral
character is essential. However, this writer does not
believe that individuals such as Emmanuel Shaw,
Rudolph Johnson, Milton Teahjay, Orishall Gould and
Varfleh Dolleh (Executives of the National Social
Security & Welfare Corporation who were recently
suspended and ordered arrested for their involvement
in the disappearance of US615,930.00) have shown any
ability to govern effectively.
It is time we Liberians begin to
discuss the core issues in the upcoming presidential
and legislative elections, instead of engaging in the
politics of personal attacks, because I would
rather have a person of integrity and compassion in
the Executive Mansion than a rogue in disguise. Rnah65@attg.net
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