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Debunking
the George Weah myth
Saturday,
October 08, 2005
By
Dionysius Sebwe
No
matter how much spin we employ or rationalize about a
candidate’s leadership abilities, the election of
2005 is about substance.
Thus, Liberians should be encouraged to make
honest and objective analysis on each candidate.
Moreover, perception is sometimes deceptive,
and that’s exactly the dilemma we find ourselves in
today. Let’s analyze what George Weah’s supporters
are saying.
GEORGE
WEAH IS FAMOUS
It
is a fact George Weah is famous due to his exceptional
performance on the soccer field. But what you don’t
hear is his ineffectiveness and poor leadership skills
as coach, coach-player, and technical director of the
national team.
By
the way, who appointed Weah as the national team head
coach? Did the Liberian people have any input in the
decision-making process to appoint him as head coach?
No one appointed Weah but himself.
There
was no consensus in making Weah a head coach.
However, Liberians went along with the decision
because Weah was riding the wave of fame, and people
became oblivious to his true ability to lead.
Transfer
Weah’s behavior to a grand stage, the presidency,
and what you have is an egomaniac, authoritarian
leader.
GEORGE
WEAH WILL NOT PILFER OR EMBEZZLE FROM THE
GOVERNMENT’S COFFERS
I
find this very hard to believe because every player
can attest to the colossal corruption and the abuse of
his celebrity power; while on the national team.
Every
penny George Weah spent on the national team was
reimbursed.
As a matter of fact, he inflated the amount the
government of Liberia owed him for tickets.
Weah
also coerced the national team, and to some extent
officials at the LFA, into a binding contract to
purchase soccer equipment exclusively from his
Weah’s sports store. While our World Cup hope was immensely dashed, Weah’s store
bilked the LFA and Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Because
George Weah was never scrutinized, he was not
accountable to anyone on the national team. He
exploited and monopolized the team, ostracized players
at whim, inflated ticket prices, and basically
controlled media fee distribution.
Why
should the Liberian people trust Weah with their
resources when he failed to employ accountability and
transparency on the national team?
Even proceeds from charities in which Weah
participated in Europe and Liberia were never
accounted for. Weah got away with the unimaginable
because there was no oversight, and if there was one,
he was exempted.
If Weah becomes president, he would definitely
be a mouse in cheese factory.
GEORGE
WEAH KNOWS LOTS OF FAMOUS PEOPLE
Sure,
Weah does know lots of famous people.
But do those famous people know him on the
basis of intellect or political savvy?
Or do they know him because of his dazzling
performances on the soccer field? I am sure his famous
acquaintances know him because of athletic performance
rather than sound political leadership.
Liberians
must not be entirely beholden to George Weah. Weah has
already admitted his leadership shortcomings. How much
revelation do we need to confirm Weah is not wise, a
critical component of leadership?
Thinking his best brains will compensate for
his lack of leadership is misguided.
GEORGE
WEAH IS A HUMANITARIAN
I
may be cynical, but Weah’s humanitarian efforts are
calculated because he wants to be a president. If Weah
were such a philanthropist, he would have secured lots
of soccer contracts for many struggling and talented
young Liberian players, considering the connections he
has.
Also,
with the wealth he is believed to have has, he would
have built more schools and provid abundance of school
supplies to our needy education system, especially
education for the young rebel soldiers he supported.
Or,
he would have established an Education Fund to support
education reform, and build education-related
institutions with the intent of alleviating illiteracy
in the Liberian society. Unfortunately, because
Weah’s wealth is based on athletics, he despises
education-related endeavors. And if he’s now
contributing to educational projects, I highly
question his motive and suspect he’s trying to play
catch-up due to his presidential aspiration.
GEORGE
WEAH IS A UNITER
It
is an absolute fact Weah is fond of schisms.
Remember Lone Star’s shameful and dismal
performance in South Africa, 1996?
Our national team was split into two camps.
Weah pitted players against each other, thereby
sabotaging the camaraderie amongst players. Liberia
suffered in the end due to Weah’s ego and
intransigence.
Contrary
to what Weah’s supporters claim about his unifying
ability, ironically, his presidential ambition is
creating a division in our society. George Weah
presses on to become president because his selfish
goal of attaining the presidency takes precedence over
reconciliation, stability, peace, and security of
Liberia.
GEORGE
WEAH’S BASIC EDUCATION IS ENOUGH
To
think Weah has the intellectual capability to make
sound decisions on major issues is just plain
deceptive and a complete fallacy.
Weah is intellectually incoherent and erratic.
Have
you wondered how many times Weah, due to psychological
reasons, resigned from the national team, then
returned as if nothing happened?
What
leader would abandon his troops midway through a
mission? How
long is Weah going to shun or get away with academic
and intellectual challenges?
Rewind to the 80’s, junior high thru high
school. George Weah changed schools multiple times per
year to avoid academic challenges.
It
is not in anyone’s best interest to put a
politically unwise novice in the Executive Mansion and
expect the country to recover politically, and
economically from more than ten years of civil strife.
George Weah’s friends and minions should dissuade
him from making a fool of himself.
Weah’s
penchant to bribe or buy votes because of his enormous
wealth will be exposed because Liberians know better,
and the international community is watching. The lack
of oversight, accountability, and transparency that
were commonplace on the national team will not be
permitted in our newfound democracy.
Making
Weah President of Liberia implies we are susceptible
to a false sense of our nation’s stability,
security, and prosperity. George Weah should be held
to similar leadership standards developing and
developed countries require of their leaders.
Anything
less is tantamount to political suicide. A qualified
president is the beginning of a profound
transformation that will trigger a chain reaction
throughout our society.
Dionysius
Sebwe is a former Lone Star player, and President of
Liberia Absentee Ballot Organization.
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