FLASHBACK: Ellen and Weah breaking grounds for the Lofa road ahead of the 2017 election, when her then VP Boakai was kept out of the loop
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s strong criticism of President George Weah display of “opulence”, meaning great wealth and luxuriousness at lighting of the Christmas tree last weekend has sparked a war of words from her successor.
“Madam Former President, let me refresh your memory about what OPULENCE is: OPULENCE is when Chevron gives 10 Million USD as CSR and you gave it to your son to squander,” President Weah reacted on his Facebook page less than 24 hours ago.
His reaction came hours after former President Sirleaf wrote this damning criticism of the current Liberian leader on her Twitter page:
Weah and his predecessor, who is said to have given him her tacit backing during the 2017 election, have until now enjoyed relatively warm relations. She is widely believed to have thrown her weight behind the presidential bid of the international footballer-turned politician, at the expense of her former Vice President, Joe Boakai, who hails from Lofa County.
In fact after his inauguration in January 2018, he gave Madam Sirleaf thumbs up for her stewardship.
But in his latest reaction to the former Liberian leader’s criticism of him, President Weah strongly questioned the stewardship of Liberia and Africa’s first elected female President, saying that she squandered huge opportunities during her 12-year-rule, amid 4 billion US dollars foreign direct investment and billions her government received in foreign aid.
“OPULENCE is when you have 4 billion in Foreign direct investment, but leave Liberia in abject squalor and poverty
OPULENCE is when you have 11 budget shortfalls in 12 years and yet spent tens of millions on failed projects like the Executive Mansion repair fiasco.
OPULENCE is when you spent over a million dollars for Oil Law Consultations; only to bring your high school student grandchild to speak to experts.
OPULENCE is when after 12 years of billions of dollars of Foriegn Aid, you still leave the country with 1 billion dollars debt that my government is now paying back.
There are a 1000 more examples, but let me leave you with these for now. OPULENCE is not when you use an old Christmas Tree and Choirs to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus,” President Weah’s more lengthier Facebook post said.