Photo: allAfrica Pressure has begun mounting on the leader of the Congress for Democratic Change or CDC George Weah to either relinquish his role as standard bearer of his party or resign his newly appointed position as Peace Ambassador.
George Weah was appointed in December, 2012, by President Sirleaf to head the country's reconciliation process, months after fellow Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee pulled out of the Peace and Reconciliation Commission citing nepotism in her government.
Mr. Weah's appointment has attracted series of controversies with calls from some members of his CDC that he turns down the appointment.
But Weah has since ignored the calls, announcing his acceptance of the post publicly at the recent held vision 2030 conference in the Central Liberian city of Gbarnga, Bong County.
However, calls for his resignation as peace ambassador resonated recently when his party officially announced his participation in the pending 2014 special election for the Senate.
But that has not deterred his critics, who have continued to cite various reasons why the CDC leader must step down. One of such critics is former Assistant Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, George Gyude Wisner.
Mr. Wisner observed that while the appointment of Weah by President Sirleaf may be well intentioned, his political role as Standard Bearer of the CDC, as well as his ambition to stand in the 2014 senatorial elections and future elections, will politicize the reconciliation process.
"This will invariably prejudice any reconciliation initiative by Mr. Weah who will be perceived by his political rivals as a competitor," Mr. Wisner, Campaign Coordinator for President Sirleaf's Second Term Bid in the 2011 election said.
He recalled a similar predicament that befell Mr. Weah when he declared his preference to run as a candidate in the 2005 presidential election while still serving as a United Nations Children Agency's (UNICEF) goodwill ambassador. Mr. Wisner recalled at that time, Mr. Weah's goodwill ambassadorial role was withdrawn by UNICEF to avoid conflict of interest and allow Mr. Weah concentrate on his political career.
Mr. Wisner, now pursuing post-graduate studies in Australia, also recalled when President Sirleaf was also forced to relinquish her role with the UN to pursue her political agenda in Liberia.
"Therefore," Mr. Wisner stressed, "it is only fair and honorable for Mr. Weah to do the right thing by giving up one of his roles;" adding further, "To insist on holding on to both positions will signal bad faith and an abuse of the confidence President Sirleaf may have in him for which she appointed him to such post."
A former student activist and former president of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) further indicated that peace and reconciliation are critical matters for Liberia right now and all patriotic citizens should rise above themselves and put the national interest first.
"It is incumbent upon political leaders and would-be statesmen, in particular, to demonstrate leadership and virtue by removing any and all impediments in the way of genuine reconciliation," he cautioned.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wisner is recommending that the Liberian President creates an expanded Reconciliation Commission comprising of at least seven eminent Liberians drawn across social, political, economic and demographic lines to drive the process without prejudice or politics.
"Such Commission should be a full time occupation and should be given autonomous status with fixed term of reference," he suggested.
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Mr. Wisner, a Campaign Coordinator during Madam Sirleaf’s second term bid in the 2011 election is illustrating his fear for Ambassador Weah participation in the senatorial election comes 2014. The election of 2014 has rules; therefore, kindly wait and see.
Why do some people assume that CDC will run of our country? There is a formidable group of experienced Liberians back home, Europe, and America that are building a coalition to lead our country. CDC, as a political institution, isn't the problem, it's Weah. Any Liberian that can seriously look in the mirror, ask themselves if Weah truly has the fabric to lead, and says and emphatic yes, should be examined.
Wisner go and find something to do. Those of you who see yourself as critics to Mr. Weah are not serious for reconciliation. To criticize Mr. Weah will proof nothing for you guys. We who are in the majority supports the move by the President for the appointment of Mr. Weah. You guys go find something meaningful to do.
I guess the President never consulted you before appointing Mr. Weah. Mr Weah's appointment will not destroy Liberia, it is just bringing another point of view to the National Reconciliation Debate.
Is this an attempt on your part to remain significant? If so, please recommend to your Boss, the President, to stop her NEPOTISTIC hiring practices, advice her to remove her son from the Board of the National Oil Company. Better yet, you can make a direct request to Mr. Robert Sirleaf ( Like you did Mr. Weah)to resign from his post as Chairman of the Board, National Oil Company of Liberia. Nepotism tends to destroy societies, that is why it is illegal in the United States and most western countries. Liberia tends to model itself after, since NEPOTISM is illegal in the United States, it should be illegal and immoral in Liberia as well. If you refuse to ask Mr. Sirleaf to Step-down, then you will continue to remain an insignificant person to the entire debate of National Reconciliation.
I think Mr. Wisner got a point there. Mr. Weah should let go of his new post to concentrate on his senatorial campaign. If he is against the present government and yet worked for her there wouldn't be much for him to criticize them on. Our politics is not like the west (USA).
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