In a rather obnoxious tone, Liberian president George Weah has branded planners of the June 7 protest co-named “Save the state” as frustrated opposition who are on distractionary tactics to divert people attention progress his government has made.
President Weah has called on partisans of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and all well-meaning Liberians to remain strong in the face of backbiting opposition machinations and trickery to divert attention from ongoing national developments.
Weah told a huge gathering of CDC partisans on the Bushrod Island last week that the June 7 protest was a ploy shrouded in hypocrisy only to distract Liberians’ attention from many positive interventions his government is making to improve lives and develop the country.
The President questioned the moral justification and significance of street protest being organized by detractors under the hallowed pretext of “Save the State”.
The CDC Political Leader made the remarks Friday, May 17, 2019 in New Kru Town where partisans gathered for primaries to choose candidates for the Montserrado County Senatorial and District #15 Representative By-elections.
He admitted there were challenges in the economy which his government is trying to improve but that he said does not amount to the collapse of the state.
He assured Liberians that the country under his leadership will never experience division and stagnation.
Fixing the economy
Weah said his leadership is bent on fixing the systemic economic and social problems which the past administration left behind.
“Yes, there are challenges, but what we are doing here is to cover the dark holes that have been dug,” he said in reference to the efforts the government is exerting to get the economy back on course.
“Today, they are accusing you for the economy that was bad under their leadership,” President Weah said amid thunderous cheers from thousands of partisans.
“But let me say that the only reason any Liberian will get into the street is simply because they were defeated and don’t want you to lead.”
Opposition frustrated?
The Liberian Leader observed the planned protest was a mere display of frustration against the CDC-led government for performing to expectations far more than what those who led for 12 years could not do.
Prior to his ascending to presidency, Weah had graded former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration’s performance at 80% contrary to his current statement.
President Weah told enthusiastic CDCians at the jam-packed T. Dweh High School Square that he is a man of the people who is not distracted by the oppositions’ machinations intended to divert his attention.
“What they are doing is to stop you from doing what you are doing,” he said further. “It is intended to stop you from paving the community roads.
It is to stop you from connecting the country with paved roads. They do not want to see you modernize the huts poor people who have been living in squalor since the founding of the country. It is to stop you from improving the education system.”
The CDC Political Leader told partisans that the government is giving opportunities to Liberian-owned businesses in keeping with the “Liberians-will-not-be-spectators-in-their-own-economy” promise.
He called on partisans to stand together during these trying times to lend support to candidates that will contest on the party’s ticket during the by-elections.
President Weah described Montserrado as the stronghold, heartland and cherished territory of the CDC which must be shown during these elections.
The former football star urged all CDCians and members of the mighty Coalition for Democratic Change to come out and support their candidates against any opposition candidate to prove the party’s supremacy in Montserrado County.
CDC last friday selected Paulita Wie, current Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs as its candidate for the July 2 senatorial bye-election in Montserrado County. Additionally, Abu Kamara was picked as the party choice to contest for the Montserrado District#5 representative bye election.
The two vacancies came as a result of the deaths of Montserrado County Senator Geraldine Doe- Sherriff and Representative Adolph Lawrence of District#15.
