“Koijee’s suspension confirms CDC’s problems, and George Weah’s lack of leadership” - Rejoinder
By Isaac Saye-Lakpoh Zawolo 
Firstly, we must commend you for taking the courage to voice your opinion on many issues that others would shy away from. Let me , however quickly aver that while your courage is admirable, your inability to stay away from falsehoods, half-truths, slandering remarks, casting of aspersions, anecdotes and unfounded allegations have captured my attention.
Of specific interest is the ferocity with which you have engaged issues appertaining to the CDC and its charismatic first partisan, Ambassador George Manneh Weah. Your determination to malign the character and image of the Party and its leader is becoming a pattern thus meriting a response.
Note though that, not that your position really matters since it is clearly the barking and ranting of a desperado wanting of recognition and a spot on the pedestal where greats of the likes of Ambassador rests comfortably pondering on how to achieve genuine reconciliation and peace in Liberia, such reckless behavior, if unchecked , could be misunderstood.
Now let us return to the arguments in your last misguided criticisms of Ambassador Weah and the CDC. While “due process” is an important tenet of democratic systems, the standing law of any political institution is sacrosanct and cannot be circumvented.
While I may have my own position on the issue of Honorable Koijee’s suspension, the bye-laws of the CDC allows for the suspension pending a full scale investigation. You asked: Do you suspend a person indefinitely before investigating them to know what actually took place.
My answer is an emphatic yes. Yes, consistent with the policy of the institution. Now is this a good policy? I quite honestly don’t think so. But, until laws are amended and policies changed the existing laws must be adhered to. Obviously, such situations presents opportunity for the Party to review its policies and I am certain that such is the case with the CDC.
Having addressed what was supposed to be the focus of your article, reading from the title, I beg to touch on the other issues that you quickly ventured into. What is Ambassador Weah risking? How is he supposed to answer a call to service? Is accepting to work for peace an acceptance of a position in government? Is that position a cabinet position? Does accepting to work as a Peace Ambassador constitute endorsement of the policy or position of the ruling party? Such line of argument sickens me.
Mr. Sungbeh, this is not the years when politics was about making enemies. Ambassador Weah sees the President of the country as the leader chosen by the people. As one who supports democracy he is to respect the office of the Presidency no matter how much he disagrees with the policy of the government.
Additionally, the CDC has vested interest in the future of Liberia. A Party which draws its strength from the youths of the nation, the CDC must be ready to work to ensure that its constituents enjoy the peace and stability that have eluded them for most part of their lives. Don’t you think then, it is the right call for their leader to rise up to work for peace? My man, this is not the politics of the old.
The CDC goal is to see a just, free, prosperous and peaceful society where opportunities abound not for a few but for all. How can such be achieved in the absence of peace? How can such be achieved when we leave with it with a government that has demonstrated its inability to deliver on peace and reconciliation?
Let’s move to your allegation that Ambassador Weah did not consult with his “party”. What is your source? Though you are correct that the issue of peace is not about “Weah”, you are equally wrong to say it is about the CDC. No, peace is not just about the CDC- it is about Liberia and the people of Liberia.
Yet another paradox in your vain attempt to bad-mouth the CDC is the fact that you would think that an individual can own a “party”. Just look at the following lines from your diatribe: “if I had a political party”, I will restructure my political party”, I will push my legislative members”. Here you are accusing Ambassador Weah of being autocratic and self-centered but yet you are claiming that as the leader one can own “legislative members”. Is that “due process”? Is that how “educated people” do it? Is that what the “policy papers” will be about? Is that how you will “frame compelling messages “? Is that how you will repudiate “questionable alliances”? Good thing that our people have gone beyond hearing “policy speeches” to demanding genuine patriotism , actionable commitment as evidenced by the willingness of Ambassador Weah to abandon his career to partake in disarmament efforts in Liberia and the generosity he has shown to many.
Concluding let me say that the other allegations about how“most people” see Ambassador Weah are more of a therapy for you than a fact. If that sooths you then I am happy for you. You, however, have failed on every occasion to provide any evidence of the allegations you heaped. To the contrary, Ambassador has scored victories in the first round of every election he has participated in as a candidate.
The CDC is moving on and I hope you too will move on. Remember, the Struggle continues!
About the author
Isaac Saye-Lakpoh Zawolo is an award winning teacher who resides with his wife and son in Bryans Road, Maryland, a Washington DC suburb. He has been a very active member of the Liberian Community in the United States. He served the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, ULAA as National Secretary General for two terms. He most recently ran for the presidency of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, ULAA. The writer can be reached at (301)728-1210 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (301)728-1210 end_of_the_skype_highlighting and [email protected].
Editor”s Note:
Mr. Zawalo,
The CDC obviously is a personality-driven organization. And since it is perceived that he (George Weah) your “First Partisan” and ‘Ambassador’ founded the organization, he’s treated preferentially.
You can dispute it all you want, but that’s the fact. And that is the way it has been in Liberian politics - the Liberian government and in political parties, with those at the top being treated as if they are above the law and above everything in the country.
Item: With decades and decades of involvement in political activism and opinion writing, I am not in the arena to make you happy, and to prove anything to you and others to gain recognition. Perhaps you don’t know it, but I’ve played my part very well, my friend.
Item: The first paragraph of your “rejoinder” commended me “for taking the courage to voice your opinion on many issues that others would shy away from,” but you drifted away quickly by putting on your CDC hat when you attacked me for my “inability to stay away from falsehoods.”
Item: If I had written a flowery and flattering article about Weah that sings praises of him, I guess I would have gotten the recognition I needed from you and others. Isn’t it? This is not about gaining recognition, it is about doing the right thing for the Liberian nation and people. The days of blindly worshipping ‘idols’ and personalities are over, my friend.
Item: You are quite right. Others don’t have the courage to take on the CDC and your “First Partisan” George Weah out of fear that they too would be attacked by a fiercely loyal and partisan gentleman like yourself, who will blindly defend his Ambassador and his party than working to solve the problem in the institution.
Item: Because Weah is the most visible, wealthy and popular member of your party, he can use his enormous influence to get his legislative members from being benchwarmers and cheerleaders to being the legislative members they were elected to be.
Item: “Peace Ambassador?” Please! How can Weah accept such ceremonial title from President Sirleaf, who has since refused to acknowledge the TRC report, and also refuses to acknowledge the practice of nepotism in her administration, with the hiring of her sons? Are you kidding me, Isaac?
Item: The article in question has gotten kudos from some in the CDC, who asked me privately to write the piece.
Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh
Disclaimer:
The views contained and expressed are those of the author. The writer does not speak on behalf of the CDC, ULAA or any organization with which he has affiliated.
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