By Ajong Mbapndah L
As a footballer, George Opong Weah left an indelible mark and is a legend by every metric you can used. From Young Survivors,to Bong Range United, Mighty Barrolle, and Invincible Eleven in his native Liberia, Weah’s early years were challenging but full of promise. He later plied his trade with Cameron giants Tonnerre of Yaoundé, before excelling with Monaco in France and joining the club of legends with epic performances in the colors of French giants Paris Saint Germain and Italian powerhouse Milan AC. Till date, he remains the lone African player to have won the prestigious France Football Ballon D’or.
In the dark and sordid civil war Era, there was a point when George Weah was literally the source of smile and hope on the faces of many Liberians. With his popularity and patriotic zeal, it was understandable when Weah started nursing Presidential ambitions. Faced with the incredible odds and minefields typical in the political arena, the competitive sportsman that Weah is learned the hard way. When his educational level and qualifications were questioned, he went back to school to bolster his academic qualifications. When labeled as too ambitious for angling for the Presidency in his first foray into politics, he went in for lower office for the much-needed apprenticeship. When he lost in successive Presidential elections, he never gave up and kept trying until 2018, when Liberians elected him as President. Five years later, the same Liberians who gave him confidence did not deem him worthy of confidence to continue for another term. Yet in defeat, it is the sportsmanship and sense of fair play with which George Weah took his defeat that may define his political legacy.
Politically speaking, it has been a checkered year for Africa, a military coup in Niger, flawed elections in Gabon that led to coup to dislodge the Bongo dynasty. In Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe, it was the all too familiar refrain of the opposition crying foul and labeling elections as rigged. That Liberia successful organized elections and the opposition candidate won is a feat that only happens on very rare occasions in Africa. That the incumbent publicly conceded defeat and rallied all to put country first is a major source of hope, not just for Liberia, but for Africa as a whole.
Shortly after the elections, outgoing President Weah urged his team to collaborate with the incoming administration for an orderly transition. He followed the call with a meeting with President elect Boakai. With the fragmented nature of African politics fraught with chaotic if not acrimonious successions, Weah is making sure that he leaves his mark in politics, jus like he did in the world of football.
For all the sins that African leaders may commit in power, for all the gapping shortcomings, and litany of unfulfilled promises, there is nothing that makes Africans quick to forgive as leaving power or an orderly transition. It therefore may not be surprising down the line to see that Weah may have done more to bolster his legacy and leave an indelible bowing out with grace than rigging to stay in power or using force to truncate the democratic process and keep himself in power.
From the accomplished footballer that he was, Weah joins the club with limited membership of African statesmen…a club where you find people like Joachim Chissano of Mozambique, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Ian Khama of Botswana, Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda of Malawi, John Mahama of Ghana and a few others who bowed out with grace.
In a continent where some leaders hold the record for longevity in power, George Weah is sending the message that issues of power should not be a question of life and death. There should not be about a leader prioritizing his political ambition over the collective interest of the people and the survival of the country.
Relatively young, Weah will discover that post presidential life may not be so gloomy after all. The options are still plenty for him. He may decide to lie low, go back to the drawing board and prepare for a political come back in future elections. He may decide to leverage the experience garnered in his one presidential term with his global image in sports for development in Liberia and Africa. He may write a book on his journey from the dusty football pitches in Liberia, to the highest office in the land. Who knows, it may inspire others. He may join the West African Elders Forum cobbled by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to continue playing a leadership role in shaping the destiny of Africans.
It is by respecting the will of the people the way Weah did that Africa will spare itself the spectre of coups gaining currency on the continent. Like the late US President John Kennedy said, those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. By dabbling in the complex equations of changing constitutional term limits Alpha Conde damaged his political legacy and gave the military a pretext to boot him out. Thanks to real and perceived opinions that he was trying to change constitutional term limits, Macky Sall’s legacy may have a dent. If Cameroon is a volcano waiting to explode, history will fault President Biya for over staying his welcome in power.
The challenges of the times, the global stakes, the potentials, and ambitious nature of today’s visionary generation of young Africans call for a different kind of political leadership. From the energy sector, to sports, trade, cross border travel, agriculture and more, Africans are increasingly ready to embrace a new dawn. A dawn that makes them masters of their own destiny, a dawn that gives them a greater say on global decisions affecting their continent. We see this in the energy sector with the African Energy Chamber organized African Energy Week leading the charge in not only amplifying the problems, but articulating succinct solutions. We see this in the IATF hosted by Afreximbank to promote continental trade. The examples of a continent on the move are legion.
With $6.2 trillion worth of natural resources, 65 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, and a vibrant youth population, Africa has no excuse to be poor, African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina said recently in Lagos, where he delivered a lecture to mark the 40th anniversary of The Guardian, Nigeria’s foremost independent newspaper. According to Adesina, Africa should not be where it is today and urged its resource-rich nations to strengthen good governance, transparency, accountability, and sound management policies to turn things around. He said the continent must look inward urgently to solve its many challenges and urged citizens to hold governments accountable for poverty.
As challenging as the times are, there is every reason to remain hopeful for the future of the continent. In the November issue of PAV Magazine, we used the tale of resilience and heroic of Francis Ngannou to harp on the spirit that young Africans must continue to emulate. The lessons and message from Liberia are harbingers of more hope.
Building on this spirit of hope to end the year is the selection of South Sudan and President Salva Kiir to serve as the new leader of the East African Community. It may only be a rotary Presidency, but for the youngest country in the world, one that has faced incredible odds since its independence in 2011, the sense of pride in Juba was totally understandable. The cover story of the end of year issue, is dedicated to developments in South Sudan with a mix of challenges, progress, and prospects.
Complementing the issue are a look into the first one hundred days of General Oligui Nguema, the election of President Boakai in Liberia, the travails of President Chakwera in Malawi, the mega deals of President Joao Lourenco during his visit to Washington, developments in the oil and gas, a preview of the upcoming African Nations Cup, and more. Happy Reading, Merry Christmas, and wishes from PAV to you for a most prosperous New Year 2024 in advance.
*Culled from December Issue of PAV Magazine
