Weah May Boycott Presidential Debate -As Baccus Prepares To Step In

 

 

Forum
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted August 25, 2005

 

The Standard-bearer of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) George Oppong Weah, is reportedly designing excuses aimed at avoiding the planned debate which is conducted by the Radio Varitas and Search for Common Ground under the sponsorship of the European Union and Carter Center.

The debate began last week Friday with four presidential candidates, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (UP), Roland Massaquoi (NPP), Varney Sherman (COTOL) and Togba-Nah Tipoteh (APD) appearing.

The debate, as part of democratic tradition aims at measuring the educational, moral political wits and strength of those vying for the nation’s highest office. It is also aimed at knowing the platforms of various presidential candidates.

Observers believe that the exercise is politically prudent since it would allow the electorates evaluate their leaders through the way they address issues of national interest.

But reports reaching The FORUM from the CDC’s camp say fear has gripped Mr. Weah given his alleged short-coming in terms of limited academic exposure, little or no political experience which would obviously render him vulnerable to addressing issues of national concerns.

“The popularity in football and that in politics can be seeing standing far apart,” said Thomas Salliah, a student at the University of Liberia.

Meanwhile, it has been gathered that one of Weah’s recruited best brains G. Baccus Matthews has been asked to proxy for the CDC first partisan during the second phase of the debate scheduled this Friday with Burumskine(LP), Weah(CDC), Morlu(UDA) slated to appear.

Efforts to get Messrs Weah and Matthews as well as CDC’s close associates could not materialize up to press time. Meanwhile the moderator of the program Mr. Frank Sainworla has said other than direct representation by party flag bearers no proyxy will be accepted.

Recently, what appeared to be CDC’s propaganda machinery hit the city like wide fire when rumors circulated that the CDC standard-bearer has made available three million United States dollars to pay the civil servants’ arrears.

But the news became a fairy tale by the evening hours when the Information Minister Dr. C. Williams Allen and the Civil Servants’ President Jefferson Elliott denied the news, terming it as “complete lies.” Joseph Molley, who claimed to be a civil servant said, “We are getting another 419 from a presidential aspirant,” asking, “Why this couldn’t be done when we were on strike in the rain for the money?”

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