Weah & Jewel’s Exchange of Pleasantries; Is It From The Heart?

By Atty Philip N. Wesseh (PNW)

In the field of journalism, it is said that one of the ways a journalist gets an interesting story is from “OBSERVASION” of an unusual happening.

This transpired last Thursday during the ground breaking ceremony of the RIA Highway by President George Weah and his Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor. The two have reportedly been in a cat-and-mouse relationship for sometimes.

Therefore, to see those two most senior government officials in a non-resentment mood during the occasion shocked many. This was big news because in “news gathering,” as the usual takes precedence.

The issue of the President and his Vice President being at loggerheads came to light when the Preacher of the 2019 July 26 Thanksgiving and intercessory Service at the colossal Liberty Christian Fellowship Center Michael Tuan Sie, Jr. raised the issue with the President. At the time, the President did not deny or confirm it, but equated it to also misunderstanding in the church.

As it is being reported today that last Thursday, supporters and sympathizers of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), were overly thrilled and over animated ahead of the national retreat scheduled for next month when they witnessed a scene where their standard bearer and Vice standard bearer were once again seen in a happy mood.

President George Weah and his deputy, Jewel Howard Taylor who have displayed signs of ‘internal rift’ for nearly 9-months showed the contrary over the weekend.

The action by the leaders with the highest seats in the country occurred during the ground breaking ceremony of the expansion, pavement and reconstruction of the Dural Carriageway of the RIA-ELWA Junction Highway road project in Margibi County on Thursday.

Our staff who observed the scene narrated that both leaders of the ruling CDC were seen happily comparing notes with infinite smiles after lingering reports of internal fracas. Onlookers who described the move as a sign of UNITY said it is a good sign for the country and the ruling party to certain extent.

What was seen as an intriguing moment was when VP Taylor was seen happily clapping whenever anyone spoke good things about her boss and the party.

This kind of happiness existed not especially during the President’s State of Nation message to the Legislature when VP Taylor wore a pair of dark eye glasses which was strange to those who know her. By then, she was seen so irritated to the extent that she never clapped happily, a situation that boosted lots of insinuations about disunity.

But on the contrary on Thursday in VOA, where the government broke ground, VP Taylor could no longer shelter her feelings and was happily seen walking behind the President where a group dubbed “ MUSICAL MADRID” was showering praises on President Weah with a token of US$50.OO.

President George Weah was so excited over the RIA-ELWA road project turnout and apparently due to exchanges between his deputy in the full view of the Liberians, the first time, sought VP Taylor’s permission to allow Public Works Minister Vlah Mobotu Nyanpan stand to give him his flowers for exceptionally implementing the Pro-poor Agenda.

Indeed, this was a dramatic twist in the soured relationship between the two senior officials in government. This is welcoming news for all because when the center cannot hold, this would not augur well for the country.

Frankly, when things start falling apart from above, this would undoubtedly have an adverse effect on the operation of the government and might likely enter into the GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORD, that Liberia is the only country in the world where the President and his Veep are at loggerheads.

Whatever the situation, I hail this present friendly relationship between the two because I have between one of those concerned about this soured relationship and have accordingly, written many articles to reverse this negative trend. Therefore, I am overwhelmed by this happy positive posture.

Howbeit, what matters now is a practical step to actualize the spirit of cordiality that characterized last Thursday’s interaction. As we idiomatically say in Liberia; I hope this is not “white teeth and black heart,” which means people do things on the surface, but inwardly with deception.

As I always said given our idiosycrancieas, there would always be differences in whatever we do, but what matters is how we manage or resolve those differences for the collective good of all.

Even in the newsroom, at times editors differ on issues or headlines, but at the end of the day, they would reach a common ground in keeping with the ethics of the profession to avoid transgression or ethical breach.

Likewise, the President and Vice President, I know, at times, there would be differences, or that it would not always be rosy, but “keeping speech,” as we say in Liberia, would only add insult to injury, something that can also be likened to pouring water on a drowning person.

Once again, I hope that spirit of conviviality or gentility exhibited last Thursday to the admiration of those who attended the occasion, would continue.

I Rest My Case.

NB: The phrase, “Keeping Speech,” is a Liberian saying in which people or friends do not speak to each other or interact or socialize with each other or one another. Interestingly, the one who breaks this cat-and-mouse relationship is considered the loser or weaker vessel in such situation or “palaver.” I experienced this, mostly among females, as a young man growing up in New Kru Town, which we also termed at the time as “CHEMLE. I really do not know whether or not it still exists.