Weah Suffers Backlash But…

MONROVIA – A local civil society group has sharply reacted to statements attributed to George Weah, former standard bearer of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), that “there will be severe consequences” if CDC is cheated in the Montserrado County senatorial by-election.

In a strong-worded press release issued in Monrovia yesterday, Concerned Liberians against Muscular Democracy (CLAM), called on Weah to retract the statement in 72 hours or face a lawsuit.

The release, signed by CLAM’s secretary general, Jerry N. Nyenpan and approved by Julius T. Dweh Jacesen II, chairman, said the statements by Weah were not only reckless, irresponsibly undemocratic, undiplomatic but also immature.

“We want to educate Amb. Weah that the statement, ‘we will capture the seat’ is undiplomatic and we are not engaging in military combativeness, but rather a peaceful democratic process, ‘capture’ is a military term, and should not be applied to the democratic process we are enjoying,” the group said.

The group, in the release, further urged the CDC’s former standard bearer to “go back to school and learn sufficient moral ethics, so that he would be mature and refined in his statements.”

CLAM further indicated that “football language is completely different from political language.”

However, CDC Assistant secretary general Acarous Gray, in a telephone interview with the Daily Observer last night, said Weah did not say there would be severe consequences if CDC was cheated in the Montserrado County senatorial by-election.

“Ambassador Weah said he does not want a reoccurrence of the 2005 general and presidential elections so as to avoid any form of election violence,” Gray clarified.

Weah did not say that there would be severe consequences, but instead cautioned the National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct the By- Election in a manner and form that will be free from frauds, Gray said.

Gray also told the Daily Observer that Weah’s caution was not a threat as it has been misconstrued in some quarters.

He maintained that Weah’s statements were to remind the NEC of its civil responsibilities in the enhancement of the Liberian democratic process.

The CDC assistant secretary general further quoted Weah as saying that all political parties are closely following the elections, which they say is a test case for the 2011 general and presidential elections.