OP-ED: Written by Amb. Willie Givens Article
For the past six years I have been in Liberia. I watched the rise of President George Weah and the activities of his powerful CDC. Like many Liberians I had a likeness for his achievements as a footballer. But having worked as a journalist during the Tubman administration, press secretary to President Tolbert and deputy minister of state and ambassador to the United Kingdom under President Doe, I had some doubts of his capacity to effectively govern a country.
Even then I assumed Mr. Weah could have risen above some of the challenges he would face and bring positive changes to the nation, not necessarily physical but political, moral, economic and social if he had chosen the right people to help he do so. When you work close to the seat of power you can easily detect the forces that could negatively influence the ability of the president to be effective.
I witnessed several occasions when some government officials tried to make Doe what he was no. For example, at one time an official came up to the Sixth Floor resident of the President and in the midst of discussion he just ran his mouth like this: Mr. President you are a great leader. People all over the country admire you ….. When the official left Doe asked me: You heard all the thing the man was talking? I said yes. Doe said “Don’t mind him. Sometimes they fooling you, looking for favors or just trying to hear what you will say.”
The type of people presidents surround themselves with will determine their success or failures. President Weah was not a complete failure. He tried his best but he could have done better with law and order, with greater attention to the young people, with curtail the infestation of drugs and with the security of his citizens.
But that era is over and the Peace Ambassador demonstrated political maturity and love for country by defeating all potential militancy, acting like a statesman in conceding to the president-elect.
He still has a future in Liberia and could spend the next six years learning to be his own man. Like Mrs. Sirleaf he may want to live a peaceful retirement in Liberia, find things to do and learn how to correct the mistakes he made. I trust President Boakai will be successful based on his age, experience, gracefulness, patience and his non-revengeful spirit.
May Liberia prosper and remain peaceful. Let’s respect our Election Commission, it’s head and commissioners, and all those who made this historic occasion a success.