MONROVIA – Renowned Liberian Nobel Peace laureate, Leymah Gbowee, has issued a stark warning to her fellow Liberians, urging them to exercise caution when it comes to politicians striking deals with President George M. Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change and former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the Unity Party.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
Weah and Boakai emerged as the top contenders in the October 10 general elections, with each securing slightly over 43 percent of the votes, setting the stage for a runoff on November 14, which is just around the corner.
In the lead-up to the runoff, both camps have been engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations aimed at securing the support of other political parties and independent candidates. These negotiations and endorsements have been marked by substantial demands for cabinet positions and financial incentives. Leymah Gbowee, known for her unfiltered honesty, has described these Liberian politicians as “clever devils.”
She explains that a “clever devil,” as defined by the Chief Imam of Liberia, is an educated individual who lacks character and conducts politics without principles.
Gbowee, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 alongside then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her instrumental role in ending Liberia’s protracted civil war, expressed her concern regarding the character, integrity, and truthfulness of many Liberian politicians in their dealings and interactions. She expressed concern about the impact on Liberian youth who often look up to these politicians as role models.
She stated: “All these so-called leaders… because true leaders will never do some of the things that we are seeing. No integrity, truth is far from everything. If someone says if I need to walk over my mother to get to where I need to get to, I will do that. No consideration for the ordinary people. And that is not just said, but for me personally, it is disgusting and sickening to watch.”
Gbowee’s remarks come at a time when political endorsements and support for the presidential runoff election appear to be tainted by demands for the distribution of cabinet positions and financial incentives, as negotiations continue between the governing Coalition for Democratic Change and the opposition Unity Party.
