Robertsfield, Margibi County – The Roberts International Airport (RIA) was abuzz over the weekend as current and former lawmakers, National Executive Committee members, party stalwarts, and well-wishers of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) welcomed their Political Leader and former President of Liberia, George Weah, back into the country after more than a month.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
Despite the huge presence of supporters, there was no official program conducted. However, a convoy accompanied the former President to his home. Additional programs are expected to be organized subsequently while he is in town, according to the party’s Secretary General Jefferson Koijee, who posted on his Facebook page.
VIP Lounge Claims and Counterclaims
Before the highly publicized arrival of former President Weah, there were calls by partisans to allow the CDC’s Standard Bearer to use the Presidential Lounge, citing his status as a former President and the fact that he had dedicated it seven years ago before leaving office.
In an effort to resolve the matter, Inspector General of Police Coleman met with former Montserrado County District #8 Representative Acarous Gray to discuss using the VIP Lounge instead of the Presidential Lounge for the former President. However, the conversation did not go well, and the Police IG walked out on Gray.
Later, IG Coleman told journalists that the VIP Lounge is accessible to the former Liberian Leader, not the Presidential Lounge.
“The Vice President, government officials, and former Presidents have access to the VIP Lounge. The VIP Lounge is ready to receive former President Weah. The Presidential Lounge is for the President and visiting Presidents. So, he has access to the VIP Lounge, and nobody is denying former President Weah,” IG Coleman said.
FPA reporter covering the former president’s arrival said there was a brief period of tension between CDC supporters and state security, but the situation was brought under control through the intervention of the party’s leaders.
Having been denied their request for their Political Leader to use the Presidential Lounge, the CDC decided that the ex-President and his entourage would use the ordinary terminal instead of the VIP Lounge, as assured by the Police Inspector General.
With a smiling face, the former Liberian President exited the plane and was greeted by party executives, reminiscent of the receptions he received during his presidency.
‘He’s fresh and prepared’
Montserrado County District #9 Representative Frank Saah Foko, Jr., dressed in his usual white suit with a red CDC beret, told journalists that Mr. Weah is the next President of Liberia and that the process of getting him re-elected in 2029 starts now.
“This is the original President of Liberia. He is back. He is very fresh and is prepared to come back to the presidency. Come what may, George Weah is the next President come 2029. The activities of his return to the presidency start now,” Representative Foko said.
He added, “The greatest Liberian on earth is George Weah. You just saw what happened just now. We are peaceful people; we are not here for trouble. We are using our regular terminal, even though we were denied the VIP lounge, but the former President is very humble, so he has no problem using the regular terminal.”
Since he left the presidency, Weah’s travels out of Liberia and returns have been marred by claims and counterclaims over the use of the airport VIP lounge. On Saturday, Weah did not use the VIP terminal again; instead, he arrived through the regular terminal. “The VIP lounge is locked. We went there with the former President’s protocol, and the place is locked. George Weah is very humble, so he will use the regular terminal,” Representative Foko said.
Airport authorities are yet to respond to Foko’s claims.
No coalition, no party, he’ my boss
Since his departure from Liberia’s top job, Weah has been in and out of the country several times, but this was a special return for many of his supporters, including former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor. Madam Taylor posted a picture of herself dressed in a blue shirt with the CDC inscription, blue trousers, a white cap, and predominantly white sneakers. She wrote, “Welcome home to my boss, GMW. No coalition, he is my boss. No party, he is my boss.”
After being cheerfully received by supporters, the ex-President and other party executives in a convoy drove out of the RIA compound. Along the route to his home, people gathered, waved, sang, and danced, praising the man they cherish.
Weah narrowly lost to his political nemesis, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, in the 2023 presidential runoff election. In the early days following his loss, he announced his retirement from politics, prompting speculation that the party was searching for a new political leader. House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, a CDC stalwart, Mr. Alexander Benedict Cummings of the Alternative National Congress, and former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor have been touted as possible candidates to lead a coalition in 2029.
However, current events suggest that Weah could be the face of his party in 2029. About a fortnight ago, Weah, speaking from abroad in a live radio interview, slammed the Unity Party-led government for failing to live up to expectations. He accused the Boakai-led government of dishonesty, claiming that officials are not genuinely interested in positive change but have returned to Liberia due to lack of success abroad. “You wanted change, but Boakai was not the change. Those who left the country and now claim to return for change are not sincere. They are here because their situations abroad were not prosperous,” Weah stated. Political commentators said the former president’s comments marked a renewed interest in shaping the country’s political landscape following his defeat in the November 14 runoff election.