By Truth In Ink | Sidiki Fofana
You cannot win with cracks in the ranks just as you cannot fight with wounds on the hands, eyes, and legs. And so I come not to upset the usual party way of thinking, but to prescribe the politically correct path, one that may bruise the ego, but fortifies the strategy.
President George Manneh Weah, if you truly seek a return to the Executive Mansion in 2029, then you must endeavor with everything in you to bring back your “generals.” Not the Facebook-forged flatterers, but the tested, battle-scarred commanders of the CDC’s historic rise.
The Strategy of Restoration Before Mobilization
Politics, like war, is won not only by passion but by preparation, by the consolidation of forces before the campaign begins.
Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Art of War, wrote,
“It is much better to be feared than loved, if one must choose.” But even he admitted that fear without loyalty fractures an army. A leader who ignores the grievances of his lieutenants, thinking his personal charm is enough, marches not toward victory, but into ambush.
The political landscape of Liberia in 2029 will not be a friendly parade. It will be a brutal contest for trust, numbers, and momentum. The CDC can no longer afford to sideline those who shaped its identity, spread its message, and defended its legitimacy. The political return of figures such as Mulbah Morlu, Thomas Fallah, Saah Joseph, Garblah Williams, and Rev. Festus Logan amongst others is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
You Can’t Replace Legacy with Likes
It is easy for new faces to emerge in times of vacancy and for excitement to surround the loudest voices on Facebook. But those are not generals. Those are commentators. Generals are not forged by hashtags, but by history. It took almost two decades to build the reputations and political instincts of the men now estranged from your circle.
They represent the institution human capital assets. They marched through the rain-soaked streets during opposition days. They endured ridicule, carried banners when you were mocked as “just a footballer,” and kept the flame of the CDC alive during its darkest nights.
Let us not forget we have been down this road before. The Unity Party has never been able to win the CDC unless it steals CDC’s assets (human capital). Such was the case of Ellen’s reelection and similar act maybe forming again. We must not allow it.
You cannot replicate that loyalty or experience with TikTok reels or chatroom slogans. And you cannot substitute strategic discipline with online praise singers who vanish the moment the tides turn.
A clear example emerged recently when you called on the party supporters to stand in solidarity with Koffa and other CDC lawmakers accused of arson.
Your directives were explicit, and the mandate was understood. However, the “generals”, who could have ensured that the party faithfuls not only comprehended the mandate but also acted on it, were absent. And so, the turnout was far below the CDC’s standard.
As Napoleon Bonaparte said, “An army marches on its stomach.” But what he meant was not food alone, it meant morale, leadership, and trust in the command structure. Your army is hungry, Mr. President, but more than that, it is fractured. And no great commander returns to battle with a divided legion.
Historical Precedent: When Great Leaders Returned to Their Core
History is filled with examples of leaders who knew when to bring their old guard back:
- Nelson Mandela, though pressured by younger ANC radicals, still leaned on veterans like Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo to guide the party through turbulent transition.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt, at the height of WWII, brought back General George Marshall to restructure the U.S. military because, in his words, “There are moments where experience is not optional, it is critical.”
- Even Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who broke with many during her tenure, had to restore alliances with key Unity Party operatives before securing her second term. Varney Sherman a known critics of Ellen later became her party’s chairman in her quest for a reelection.
You must learn from this playbook, not ignore it. There is nothing wrong, but everything right to do so.
The CDC Was Not Built Alone, Nor Can It Be Rebuilt Alone
Let’s be honest. The likes of Samuel Tweah, Nathaniel McGill, and Jefferson Koijee remain key assets. But their reach is limited by international perception and domestic skepticism. Their loyalty may be unquestioned, but their baggage, real or politically manufactured, cannot be ignored. That’s why you need the balance of other generals, those with strong grassroots base, independent influence, and an attractive image.
Take Thomas Fallah. Despite recent tensions, he remains one of the few CDCians with reach across Monrovia’s working-class base and deep legislative experience. Saah Joseph has always connected the CDC to health-based humanitarianism, and rural communities, a powerful theme in a post-COVID world. Mulbah Morlu, while controversial, remains a magnetic mobilizer unmatched in the party’s history. And so also are the others- Festus and Garballah, etc.
Leadership Is Repairing What Was Broken
Your estranged generals say you grew distant. That you became inaccessible. That decisions were taken by a few in echo chambers of loyalty rather than strategy. True or not, perception becomes truth in politics. The question now is not who was right, but who will be wise.
Perhaps had you not listened to the miscreants who misrepresented my effort to have you reject Morlu’s resignation, he could still be the General you have depended on for decades. Maybe, with a little caution, as I insisted, during the decision to expel Fallah, he too would still be around. And so also would Garballah and Festus, just to name a few.
Without any hesitation, I can say equivocally that those who encouraged and celebrated their departure did so not for the good of the party, but out of a selfish hope that it would give them space to shine. It was never strategy, it was sabotage.
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting,” said Sun Tzu. But in politics, the enemy is not always outside, it is disunity within.
Mr. Former President, I applaud your recent efforts to reach out. It may be challenging at times, but don’t give up. Leaders are made to confront difficult and sometimes unpleasant situations. In this game of people, that should never be an issue.
And so I urge you not only to continue but to intensify the engagement and outreach you’ve already started. It will pay off. Strategy, more than sentiment, is what’s required to secure an advantage, and your actions are headed in the right direction.
The real test of leadership is not the ability to command cheers. It is the humility to recognize a fractured house, and the courage to restore it. Those now whispering in your ear that you don’t need your old guards, they are not strategists; they are saboteurs. And their advice will cost you votes, and possibly, the Executive Mansion.
Restoration Is the Road to Redemption
President Weah, your legacy is incomplete. Free university, housing for the poor, exam fees, these were the foundations.
But the mission was never just to start; it was to finish. That path back to the people starts with a return to the generals who helped build the movement.
Bring them back. Not for them, but for the cause. Not to please history, but to win the future. This is not cowardice. This is command.
