Why I’ll become Liberia’s president in 2017 – George Weah

George Weah is a famous retired professional footballer-turned-politician who is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time. He just won the just-concluded presidential election in Liberia, emerging president-elect. The following is a reproduction of portions of an interview he granted us in July 2016. Herewith, are excerpts: Daily Trust: You ran […]

George Weah is a famous retired professional footballer-turned-politician who is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time. He just won the just-concluded presidential election in Liberia, emerging president-elect. The following is a reproduction of portions of an interview he granted us in July 2016. Herewith, are excerpts:

Daily Trust: You ran unsuccessfully for president of Liberia in 2005 against Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and again for vice president on Winston Tubman’s ticket. Can you share your experience?

George Weah: It’s a truly great thing to be part of Liberian politics. You know I played a major role in the peace-building over the years. I was called on board by the people and they gave me their mandate, and I created and funded a party called Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), which is today the people’s party, the most popular one in my country. I went to the elections in 2005, and won the first round overwhelmingly but something changed and we had to go for a second round. When we did, the same thing happened. 

But for the sake of peace and stability in our country – coming from many years of civil war – we held discussions with regional leaders  and interest groups and we eventually decided to accept the results. We listened to the counsel of respectable African leaders, who I respect a lot, like Nigeria’s then-president Olusegun Obasanjo,  Ghana’s then-president John Kufuor and South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki and others, who sat with me and told me that ‘Look, in the interest of peace and stability in your country, let’s make some provisions for the country to move on’. I’m a peaceful man, and my vision is to see Liberia grow. So I listened, kept hope alive, and all the while I continued to work.

In 2011, I was privileged to be on the ticket of Winston Tubman, as his Vice. We went to elections, an a similar thing to what happened to me, happened. Again, we let it slide and continued to hope. I declared my bid for the presidency in April 28, and I would like to tell those who told me to concede for the sake of peace, that for the sake of peace and stability that we’re hoping that there will be free and fair elections. 

We’re hoping that this time everything will be OK, and that interest groups will guide the elections, and see it through. 

DT: After your retirement, you joined politics unlike some of your colleagues who opted for careers in coaching or football management. What informed your decision?

Weah: I grew up in a politician’s house, that’s my father. He was active in the movement that got [Ellen] Sirleaf Johnson out of jail, the Movement For Justice in Africa (MOJA) whose school of thought I also subscribe to. For my entire life so far, and my career, I’ve been following Liberian politics and I’ve been involved, even on the international scene. I’ve been actively advocating against the war that ravaged my country. I spoke out, so sanity would return to Liberia. If you recall, I gave an interview to Forbes magazine then, in which I said for peace to return, the United Nations needed to come into the country. They came in, and I was involved in the disarmament process as well. 

When I saw the child soldiers, and the lives they led, I decided to help them. I helped get them disarmed, and many of them even went to school, and are today doctors, lawyers and so on. I played a major role. And I was called on board, as I said earlier, by the people and they gave me their mandate. Even after all that has happened over the years at the polls, I still have that mandate.

After achieving all that I have in my soccer career, I decided not to go the coaching route, because I wanted to help my country in a different way. I also went back to school, up to Masters’ level and I’m currently a serving Senator. 

When I was joining politics, some people thought I was a joke. But here we are today, and I have the people’s mandate.

DT: You ran for the presidency twice. What makes you feel you will succeed this time?

Weah:  We have grown in politics. In 2005, I was very young and inexperienced.  But for twelve years now, I’ve been very active. I’m very much into government now. For our rebirth, we’ve been in tune with the intricacies of our nation. We also keep an eye on what the current government is doing, and speak out when there’s a need. When we need to support them, say to enact laws and such, we do so too in the interest of the people. 

Everyone in the CDC has grown, we have matured. When we speak, we don’t incite. We speak words of wisdom. So much so that when I ran for the Senate, even key figures of the  opposition came to us, to join us. 

We’ve also fine-tuned all of the intricacies, like early planning, making sure the ballot papers are monitored and so on. We also collaborated with other parties. Like I said, we have grown. I believe I’m a good leader, with skills and the heart to make a positive difference.  

DT: You were elected to the Liberian Senate in 2014. How have you been coping with life as a public figure and politician rolled in one? 

 

Weah: I mix both, because I was a public figure and now I’m a politician. So the responsibilities are the same, just in slightly different ways.