As 2011 presidential election encroaches, Mr. George Weah has declared that he is knowledgeable enough, and that with a good team. he can do better than President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in terms of the economy and development.
Speaking in South Africa, the one-time football icon said: "I am knowledgeable. I think I can develop this country with a good team, we can do things better than what Ellen is doing," Weah added. "I am an honest person who wants to see the country prosper. I want to see the people grow. The middle class that is missing in the country is what we want to bring about."
The comments from the leader of the Congress for Democratic Change, taken from an Associated Press story, depict what the writer said rapid transformation from sports outfits to business suits: "The photos of George Weah's football past are rapidly disappearing from the walls of his seaside villa, replaced by mementos of academic achievement and pictures of the Liberian goal scoring great with political figures", he wrote.
Relevant Links
AP: Weah, who won the FIFA Player of the Year award in 1995, went into politics in 2005 and ran for president of his native country that year. Although he beat 21 other candidates to win the vote in the first round, he lost to eventual president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the second round.
Many believe his lack of formal education was the reason for the defeat, and Weah appears determined not to let that undermine his chances in the 2011 election.
"These are ever-since pictures," the 43-year-old Weah said in an interview with The Associated Press in the eastern Paynesville suburb of Monrovia. "I am now in my senior year and by God's help I am graduating from college next July."
Weah received a high school diploma in 2007, and said he has since been studying business administration at Devry University in Miami. He denied his desire for more education was based on his hope of becoming president, insisting he wants "to improve my potential and because I think it is the right thing to do."
Liberia, which has emerged from years of fighting and unrest following more than a decade of civil war, is plagued by wrecked industries, poor roads and limited electricity even in the capital.
Born and raised in a Monrovia slum, Weah was a star striker for AC Milan and won the top FIFA award while at the Italian club. He also played for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Chelsea and Manchester City before going into politics in a country founded and colonized by freed American slaves and nearly torn apart by the civil war started by former president Charles Taylor, who is currently on trial in the Netherlands on charges of murder, rape, sexual enslavement and recruiting child soldiers.
But Weah's lack of knowledge about political activities did not prevent his good showing in the 2005 presidential poll, even if he and his youthful Congress for Democratic Party alleged that ballot-stuffing was one of the reasons he lost.
"We were a young party, organized just four months before the election," Weah said. "Things that were lacking have been put into right perspective."
Since that loss, Weah said he feels his decision to get a higher education has prepared him for future political challenges.
"I was seeking again to go to the convention so that I can run on the people's ticket, and I have been petitioned to run," Weah said before an old-timers football match. "That shows I am running again.
Support for Weah is visible on the faces of many Liberians, including roadside sellers and passers-by -- one of them a university student who argues why the former sportsman is needed as president.
"He's not a Harvard or Cambridge product, but at least he knows the basic things human beings need to survive. He knows that a society of hungry people is doomed," James Kieh said. "And once Weah is able to put these in place, this is one of the things Liberians are yearning for."
For the 2011 election, Weah said he's in consultation for collaboration with other political parties to avoid going out in the second round.
"We want to put him in power because he cares for the youths and common people," 18-year-old local Sekou Kuyon said. "And if he becomes president he will open a football academy for us."
Although Weah now lives on an estate with a giant swimming pool, many Liberians still remember him spending his youth playing football in the slums.
"He is a humanitarian. He's a man who caters to people," said Panpee Wreh, a longtime friend of Weah and youth football coach.
"From the 1960s, when he and I grew up together, I knew he was going to become someone great."
Not everyone agrees.
"I like George Weah but not as Liberia's president," said Maria Cooper, a local businesswoman. "He can be of better service to Liberia by helping to improve football that is today winning fortunes. This is where he belongs."
Comments 1 to 5 of 7 Post a comment
George:
I like you as a person and I do believe you are a fine human being, but you are not ready to lead a nation like Liberia. You need to get involve in a low level political area and develope your political skill to the level that will prepare you. You have no leadership and managerial skills and a prudent knowledge of policies needed to run a post war nation like Liberia. And to be frank George, popularity may be of benefit for you among the young children, but on the professional level, you will not make it to the top position of our nation. You need more than a 120 hours of college credits to excel to the level or position of a president. Be patience and let those who understand polices and know the rope to clean up the economic mess, build a strong economic foundation before attempting to apply for this position. Those who are pushing you to run even though they are fully and honestly aware that you are ready for the post are only doing so for themselves. Just register this into your head, ruling a post-war nation is quite difficult and requires an experienced person like Sirleaf. Please don't ruin your chances by rushing into this thing, as we call it. Wait for the right time, develope your political, managerial, and leadership skills before running. If you are smart and intelligent, you will take this advice because you will not, and will not, win the presidency. You know why? Ellen has the track record of achievements and you don't! Ellen can easily point to her records and ask the people if the nation is better off today than 6 years ago? And frankly George, you can not do better than Ellen because the presidency is not a training groud, it requires experience, strong experience, which you do not have. Right now, Liberia needs to move forward, continue to build on its progress, etc. Electing someone like you with absolutely no leadership skills, would be a grave mistake for a nation that needs to keep up the progress it has achieved in the short period of time the Sirleaf government has being in office. Again, nothing against you personally but I strongly believe you are not ready and rushing through college does not adequately prepare you or anyone to lead a nation like Liberia at this critical stage.
" .. Electing someone like you with absolutely no leadership skills, would be a grave mistake .."
Think! THINK!
Was it 'a grave mistake' for the citizens of USA to elect a B Obama " with absolutely no leadership skills"?
If so, then Liberians have company. If not, then what are you yapping about?
.
" .. for a nation that needs to keep up the progress it has achieved in the short period of time the Sirleaf government has being in office. .."
What "progress" do you see?
[You must be one of the eternally thankful flunkies who benefit from the largess she loots from the people.]
[Recite this to your President-for-Life: "Sirleaf is not Liberia. Liberia is not Sirleaf"]
I didn't want to respond to your posting but again, I believe I need to educate you on the comparision you between President Obama and George. First, you failed to realize that Mr. Obama had vast political expericence, first as a state senator and as a US senator. George on the other, has never held a public office. Second, Obama was a professor of law, George highly finish high school. He just enrolled at college with barely 100 credits. So you need to go back and work on your research before making comparision.
Now, when speaking about Sirleaf's administration, you still seem to be very uninformed about the work of government or functions of governrment, not to mention your naiveness. You seem to like comparision so I will again brighten your view about time and two present administrations. First, 20 years ago Liberia was considered a failed state, gunshots were roaring the air and streets and every cornor of Liberia. You could not walk the street for a second without running for cover. One had no freedom and were completely hopeless with the next minute, not to mention the day. Everyone was scattered into foreign land, catching living hell. In the administration of Mr. Taylor, well you know, nothing, I mean nothing happened in terms of development of any kind. I need not to focus on the Taylor's administration because there is absolutely nothing to talk. His term was a total mess and complete waste of time.
Now, I need you to take a look around in Monronvia and the rest of the country, that is, if you have a sound intellectual and grateful mind to commend the progress that has taken place since Sirleaf took over. With the global economic meltdown, Sirleaf didn't back down with excuses, but was on the road daily bagging for people like you and your children to have a better future. You need to do some research on your own about the progress the nation has seen in the short time this lady has been office. She has been names by many prestigious international papers and the world body as a whole. Sirleaf good management and leadership skills led to the waver of our national debt, which brings the nation fresh breath of opportunities to focus on its progress. Companies are pouring in for potential investments, Delta airline should be flying direct for the time in 20 pluse years. Road constructions moving ahead in almost every part of the country, children are back in school without fearing for their lives from rebels, Liberia has regained its place into the internaitonal front, the nation is being praised constantly from every cornor of the globe. Again, don't take my word or that of others, you need to do your own search and find out the facts.
Tell me, what is George's experience? What do you think this guy can offer to nation? The man is a footballer and nothing wrong with that, but he does not have skills to manage a nation like Liberia at this particular time. He needs to learn the political world by first holding public office. He needs to learn his way around the ring and practice the game of politic. You spoke of American politic by comparing Obama, if you really understood American politic, you would know that majority of the American prisidents were once governors for good number of years. They learn how to balance budgets, state affairs, and those things that make a person to become a sound leader. Everyone of them has had some sort leadership experience/skills. The position of president is not for trainee. And a person who wants to be a leader can not totally rely on the vision of others to make his decisions to run government. George Bush Jr didnt' and it ended up in diaster in Iraq.
George Weah came in second and finally went against Sirleaf in the first election for one reason, the people wanted a unifier and they thought he would be the best person. But then something very important entered the people minds besides just unifying the country, the economy and who was better qualified to lead the nation out of the mess. People didn't turn to George at the end becasue he did not have the experience to under take such a tremendous task. And the next selection will boil down to the same question, who is better quailified to continue the progress we have made? Again, the answer will not suprise you because the president has proven to the people and the world that she can lead in tough economic time. Look, let's set aside party affiliation and put our country's interest at first before popularity. Popularity will not put bread on your table, nor provide good education and build good economic foundation all of us. Nor will it brings development and wave our national debts. Popularity will not prevent rape of our young girls and women, nor will it provide us a place in the international community. I could go on and go but I will stop here. Before you compare, please do your research and find out about the thing or people being used for comparision. If you had read attentively what I wrote about George, you would have probably agreed with me that he needs to develope himself politically before running for the big office. I think he is fine person with national interest. But we can not afford at this particular to risk the progress we have made. Let him run representative or senate, let him learn the political field better, let him groom himself and make his mark with the peopele. Then when he stands or applies for the higher post, people will take a look at his records and judge him fairly.
Popularity not translate into leadership. Leadership and management skills must be learned and practiced. These two are what make a person a better leader. They must go hand in hand and not one without the other...
"We can do things better than Ellen"
Clown + clown posse = national disaster. Celebrity leaders are the scourge of politics. Liberia needs a dynamic young leader with no baggage and no fear.
See All Comments