‘Don’t vote for Weah’ – Pro Poor Defender Tipayson Summersaults

MONROVIA – A once ardent supporter of President George Weah, Michael Doe Tipayson has called on Liberians not to reelect the President owing to his “dismal” performance as President of Liberia.

Tipayson, a former youth leader of Doe Community on Bushrod Island and former head of the ‘Pro Poor Defender’, has grown disillusioned with his party and its leadership.

Speaking via Skype from the United States, Tipayson said President Weah should have used his first term to prove that he has a good leadership ability and is fully able to implement the six-year mandate given to him by the Liberian people. But on the contrary, he failed dismally, and as such, he should be given the exit door.

He called on President Weah to change his style of leadership from self-centered to a people-centered leader.

Quoting South African politician Julius Malema, he said “The only way a leader can be considered a people-center [person] is when the leader has reasons to fear a judgment of his people.”

He said Liberia is blessed with abundant resources that if managed properly will transform the country and its people, but successive bad governments continue to mismanage the country.

From his experience abroad, he said, he has realized that Liberia can be a better country if the rightful people are elected to govern it.

President Weah has reneged on his many promises he made during his inaugural address in 2028. One of them was to reduce his salary by 25 percent, he added.

He said under Weah, integrity institutions have being weakened due to lack of adequate support.

“I didn’t support the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf regime, but there was one thing we all could see- the Unity Party-led government under Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf strengthened integrity institutions which observably attracted more investment to Liberia,” said.

“Whenever international partners and investors don’t trust your systems because they see that you play with integrity institutions, there will be less investment going to the country.”