NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – Former President George Manneh Weah has launched a blistering attack on President Joseph Boakai, accusing him of using authoritarian and extrajudicial powers to suppress political opponents and weaponizing Liberia’s drug crisis against the former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
By: Kabina S. Kabah – kabinaskaba98@gmail.com
In a strongly worded statement issued Wednesday, Weah said former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor had become the latest victim of what he described as the Boakai administration’s growing authoritarianism.
The former Liberian President alleged that Jewel Howard-Taylor was unlawfully prevented from leaving Liberia, harassed and detained without prior notice, while maintaining that she had categorically denied all allegations against her.
The former President accused the government of attempting to manufacture links between the ongoing narcotics investigation and the CDC administration, despite his claim that the major cocaine discoveries occurred after his government peacefully transferred power to the Boakai administration.
Weah further alleged that government and security officials accused in connection with the narcotics cases were receiving preferential treatment while the investigation was being used to target political opponents.
He said the CDC supports lawful efforts to combat Liberia’s drug epidemic but would oppose what he called attempts to exploit the crisis for political gain.
In one of his strongest attacks against the current administration, Weah accused President Boakai of seeking to rule Liberia as a tyrant and warned that such actions posed a serious threat to the country’s democracy, peace and security.
The former Liberian leader disclosed that he had engaged regional and continental leaders about what he described as the systematic erosion of democracy and the rule of law in Liberia.
“Despite a peaceful democratic transition, President Boakai seeks to rule as a tyrant. This we must all resist,” Weah declared.
He vowed to return to Liberia following his engagements abroad to rally the CDC and other “well-meaning Liberians” to resist what he termed an attempt to trample upon the country’s democracy.
Weah said the resistance would be pursued through all political and legal means guaranteed under the Liberian Constitution.
