The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
March 11, 2019

Friday, 8 March, 2019, Monrovia, Liberia: The Movement for Justice In Africa (MOJA) is not surprised to hear President George Weah’s faulty, disingenuous or deceptive explanation of wealth accumulation: “If you know book but you do not own a house or bicycle, etc, you are stupid.”

Interestingly, his view of equating someone accumulating wealth to his/her smartness or intelligence is close to the views of Monrovia elites who continue to dictate Liberia’s economic arrangement, through Liberian officials, the powerful media, and prominent institutions.

For instance, instead of big business encouraging past and present leaders of the country to punish individuals who steal properties of society, it deceptively despises Liberians who decline to enrich themselves at the expense of society.

In fact, nowadays, some Liberians considered a person to be stupid because he/she did not steal properties of government when he/she was in government. And this explanation is based on a long-held false belief that properties of society are in steal yours share whenever you have access.

After local and international experts along with anti-corruption advocates identified corruption as one of the root causes of chaos in Liberia, sympathizers of corruption argued that individuals who invested their ill-gotten wealth in Liberia are honorable.

Additionally, many Liberians accepted the rumor, although, without proof, that people with fewer properties were dishonest, while Liberians with more wealth were less corrupt and honest.
Again, this belief is grounded in the false assertion that white-collar employees (chief executives) are honest, but blue-collar employees are not.

Predictably, President Weah, faced with bad economic news and unable to explain how he is financing his commercial and personal built in less than a year, wants to change the different corruption stories that continue to remind people of what every incumbent fears, inconvenient truth.

Therefore, he has attacked members of MOJA, hoping to remind businesses that its arch-rival (MOJA) might enter the 2023 presidential race. Monrovia elites do not only dislike MOJA because of its fights to institute anti-poverty programs, but President Weah is protecting the interest of the Monrovia elites.

For example, president administration has concluded that the Sirleaf administration awarded concessionary agreements that met internationally best practices, exonerating investors who were purported to have given bribes in exchange for 66fraudent concessionary agreements.

What is the Movement for Justice in Africa: after William V. S Tubman regime ended in 1971, many progressives organized themselves into The movement for justice in Africa (MOJA). The All People’s Alliance (APFA), The Progressives Alliance of Liberia (PAL), The Committee Against Political Repression in Liberia (CAPRIL), SUSUKU.

MOJA and SUSUKU headed by Comrade Togba Nah Tipoteh provided legal services to the poor, organized workers’ education programs, and gave agricultural and managerial advice. In the case food self-sufficiently, MOJA and SUSUKU launched the rice production project, which compelled the Liberian government to declare war on poverty. Also, it was MOJA’s advocacy about racist apartheid policy and Southern Africans’ Liberation Struggle that encouraged William R. Tolbert Administration to launch funding raising project to support the African liberation struggle.

In another example of the efforts to change minds of Liberian citizenry, MOJA launched “The Sawyer for Mayor Campaign” in order to expose the clause within the 1847 Liberian constitution which deny a citizen to vote if he/she did not own a real estate property.

Now that President Weah has raised the issue of accountability wealth, legally or illegally, which usually increases income inequality, MOJA is compelled to part-take. So, let us ask the million-dollar question. Is wealth accumulation a good or bad idea? Should there be a limit?

Well, some of the billionaires in the world such as Warren Buffett, Bill and Malinda Gates, etc. are indicating that there should be limit. Therefore, some of them are donating portion of their wealth to society. Additionally, some governments, in order to reduce chaos, distribute cash or pay for social programs.

Distributing some of the excessive wealth is noble, but why takes more wealth away from society in the first place? Liberia’s Albert Porte, etc. did not accumulate wealth but contributed a lot of good things to society. Other Liberians continue to abhor dishonest benefits or unearned rewards even though an opulent lifestyle and the high taste for material things continue to tempt them. Parents insist that the love for material things is equivalent to be a weak person and/or a person that is gullible to manipulation. Decline offer from a stranger because it was difficult to determine a true angel from a devil dressed in sheep clothing, parents admonished.
Many of these people who abhor the accumulation are guided by the good book, the Holy Bible. For example, religious literature says wealth accumulation, legally or not, should not be excessive, according to St. Matthew of the Holy Bible. Chapter 6 verse 24 of Matthew states “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and Money”

If President Weah is guided by the scripture of the Bible, why is he equating someone accumulating wealth to his/her smartness or intelligence? Speaking at the ceremony of the installation of the officers of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) on 22 January 2019, President George Weah spoke about members of the Movement for Justice in Africa and “Book People”, specifically Comrade Togba Nah Tipoteh his uncle.

He admonished the audience not to follow the Liberian “Book People” who are not successful in anything, even though they have been around for sixty years. If educated people (i.e the 70s progressives) do not even own a bicycle and/or office, you should not follow the old progressives, he, added.

So, if members of MOJA were/are advocating for a democratic and prosperous society, why are elites uncomfortable with MOJA? Or, why is President Weah making derogatory remarks about members of MOJA? This is because President Weah and Monrovia elites want to accumulate more wealth without anti-corruption crusaders demanding an end to corruption.

It is disheartening that people President Weah will forget so soon that Comrades Togba Nah Tipoteh,  Amos Sawyer, Gabriel Baccus Matthews, Oscar Jaryee Quiah, Dew Tuan Wreh Mayson,  Henry Boima Fahnbulleh, Tiawan Gongloe, and other progressives had not stoop up against one-party rule, misuse of public resources, and other vices in our society today he Weah and his cheering squad would have been where they are? 

Today, you have the Flomos, Wessehs, Koffas, Yarkpawolos, Grupees, and Dagosehs all in the Legislature because Togba Nah Tipoteh and the Progressives brave the storm to fight against ill-gotten wealth, injustice and one-party rule.

The progressives paid the hard price to get this country free from one-party rule to multiparty democracy which charlatans and the like George Weah are benefiting from.
Yes, Mr. Weah is one Liberian who subscribes to the view that working for Government should be an opportunity to steal and if you do not then you are stupid so people like Comrade Togba Nah Tipoteh are stupid that is why they have no home, no bicycle.

Let George Weah know that Tipoteh is living very well and happily going about his business not hiding from no one and not hunted from misdeeds that are hunting the like of George Weah.

George Weah should be concern with his task of building a nation and do not look for enemies all over the place. Mr. Weah should not run away from the public on the following things. The people want to know the status of this partial list that President Weah is hoping to keep away from the public:

1.    Documents to show the source of the funds to build President Weah’s properties
2.    President Weah Asserts Declaration
3.    Report of the L$16 billion-dollar saga
4.    Documentations of the $17 million infusion into the economy;
5.    The illegal and unconstitutional amendment of the 2018/2019 national Budget;
6.    Evidence of the ownership of the private jet;
7.    Authorization to appropriate US$500k for the First Lady of Liberia, Mrs. Claire Weah; and etc
Most importantly, President Weah, having the support of unscrupulous Monrovia elites, wants to run the affairs government without check and balances. Remember, even in advanced countries, leaders usually seek to create such an environment. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every institution to discourage its leadership from paving the way dictatorship. MOJA on to this belief and it prepared to fight for it.

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