By Cllr. Garrison Yealue (former representative, Nimba County)
As the wisdom of Chief Sando of Bomi County reminds us, “When the fiercest wind blows, only the tree whose roots are deeply anchored in the memory of its soil will hold fast.”
Many will misunderstand you, many will hate you, many will betray you, and many will abandon you. Yet, President Weah, this is the true definition of greatness forged through adversity.
You came, you saw, and you conquered the world of football with your sheer brilliance, elevating the pride of the African child on the global stage. When called by history into the realm of political power, you redefined our democracy by demonstrating that leadership belongs to the humble and that power is measured by sacrifice rather than privilege.
Chief Suakoko of Bong County wisely taught her people that “A single strand of thread cannot weave a sacred cloth; it takes the collective endurance of a village to mend a torn heritage.”
We are a proud republic, standing as Africa’s second independent nation, if not the first, yet our history bears heavy scars. We endured fourteen unbroken years of devastating civil conflict, lost over 250,000 of our mothers, fathers, and children, and watched the hope of our nation crumble into ashes.
When former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf concluded her twelve years in office, she informed the world that Liberia was being entrusted to a new generation of leaders. You stepped forward at the ultimate test of statehood, just as UNMIL departed, leaving our security entirely in our own hands, and as donor funding ebbed away. For the first time in nearly twenty two years, Liberia was forced to stand on its own feet.
In the spirit of Paramount Chief Samuel Zulu of Grand Gedeh County, who declared that “The noble chief does not sit cursing the fallen trunk that blocks the village path; he picks up the axe and clears the way for his people,” you chose responsibility over excuses. You refrained from casting blame on past administrations, even though many of those actively discrediting your government were the very custodians of those previous eras. You accepted the burden of rebuilding as a sacred challenge.
Steadily, your administration built roads, expanded infrastructure, and secured free public tuition for our youth, guiding us toward self reliance until the global shock of COVID 19 disrupted those gains. Though the current administration struggles with basic bread and butter issues while enduring no pandemic, they act as if they built every stone of Liberia from 1847 to today.
Chief Johnny Voker of Nimba County proclaimed that “The sun does not hide its golden light merely because the night owl complains of its glare.” Your legacy is etched in the absolute press freedom you bestowed, a gift of free speech that critics now attempt to stifle behind the veil of cybercrime laws.
While the present government celebrates local government achievements in regions across the country, history records that it was your administration that gave Liberians the landmark Local Government Law and the Revenue Sharing Law.
Even as counties like Nimba are unfairly denied their rightful share of major resource yield bonuses, such as the 200 million signature bonus from ArcelorMittal, the legal framework of decentralization you created remains the true bedrock of our local governance.
As Chief Tamba Taylor of Lofa County once observed, “He who throws dust into the air with hypocrisy will find that the wind blows it back into his own eyes.” They fabricated the malicious falsehood about missing 17 billion Liberian dollars to tarnish your integrity.
Yet, as a true beacon of transparency and accountability, you fearlessly invited international partners, including the United States Government and Kroll Associates, to conduct an independent investigation, which ultimately exposed their allegations as absolute lies. These same political actors deceived the nation with promises of an ARREST Agenda, only to break laws with jet like speed once in power.
The critics who falsely accused your administration of regional nepotism turned around to make Lofa County their personal stronghold, funneling over 60 percent of major government appointments into their own hands. They hated you and spread falsehoods, committing the exact negative actions they falsely accused you of, but amplified three hundred fold, leaving you to return and rebuild what they break.
Paramount Chief Botoe Barclay of Margibi County warned that “A foolish man may rejoice when his neighbor’s rooftop burns, but the wise man knows that fire respects no boundary.”
They spread wicked lies accusing your leadership of facilitating narcotics, yet it was your administration that took the boldest, most uncompromising stand against illicit substances in Liberian history by enacting the landmark Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023, making drug trafficking a non bailable, first degree felony.
If their hands are clean today, why do they lack the political courage you displayed? Why do they hide and refuse to invite independent international forensic experts to investigate the true cartels behind the drug epidemic plaguing our youth?
Their political spectacle reached its peak when they celebrated the destruction and eviction of your party headquarters under a court ruling executed with pure malice. Yet out of that adversity, the CDC became only the second party in Liberian history to build and own a national headquarters in just twenty two years, while forty two year old parties remain perpetual tenants.
With tears of gratitude and hearts full of pride, we draw strength from Chief Jenkins Doe of Grand Bassa County, who swore that “The sea may toss the canoe, but it cannot alter the true course of the stars above it.”
Joining this chorus of honor, Chief Kai Farley of River Gee County reminds us that true royalty is found in humility, while Chief J. Fulton Dunbar of Maryland County declares that your statesmanship saved our republic from the brink of chaotic division. Chief Arthur B. Watson of Sinoe County adds his voice to proclaim that your unmatched generosity built bridges where others constructed walls.
Together, these great leaders affirm that your legacy is shielded by the prayers of millions, and as we count down to your glorious birthday on October 1, we stand shoulder to shoulder with you, our leader, our brother, and our permanent champion of peace.
Through the emotional tides of our nation’s journey, the echoes of wisdom grow stronger as Chief Gbessa Kpan of Gbarpolu County teaches us that “A quiet river runs deeper than a roaring stream.”
Standing firmly beside him, Chief Boimah Sandimani of Grand Cape Mount County reminds the world that your dignity in the face of political hatred is the hallmark of a true statesman. Chief Momo Seaboe of Montserrado County boldly proclaims that the hearts of the masses remain your true fortress, unshakeable by the political malice of the day.
In unity, their collective thoughts reflect the unbreakable bond between you and the ordinary people, reinforcing our mindsets with unshakable conviction that your golden era of leadership redefined Liberian democracy forever.
Standing on the shoulders of our glorious history, Chief David Carter of Rivercess County speaks with deep reverence, noting that “The palm tree grows tallest through the fiercest winds, and its fruit feeds children who were not yet born when it was planted.”
Sealing this sacred honor, Chief William Bryant of Grand Kru County declares that your name is forever etched in the hall of African legends as an icon of global peace, good governance, and athletic majesty. As October 1 draws near, we celebrate this pre birthday milestone with radiant joy, firm solidarity, and unyielding revolutionary love.
Happy Early Birthday, Your Excellency President George Manneh Weah, our hearts beat with yours, our faith in your vision remains absolute, and we salute your eternal greatness as you continue to lead us toward a brighter tomorrow.
