IPNEWS-Monrovia: The standard bearer and political leader of the opposition Rainbow Alliance, Reginald Goodridge has disclosed that President George Weah, standard bearer and political leader of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has demonstrated insincerity in the highest degree by blatantly violating the newly-signed Farmington Declaration 2023, intended to prevent violence and conflict before, during and after the pending October 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
Addressing a news conference Thursday, April 6, 2023, Mr. Goodridge disclosed he was verbally attacked by CDC standard bearer and political leader, President Weah, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi where political parties and their leaders had gathered to sign a peace document ahead of the October elections, in the presence of the ECOWAS, UN and other international bodies heads in Liberia.
Goodridge narrated that, “At about 3:00 PM on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, following the signing of the Revised Farmington River Declaration at the Farmington Hotel, I was approached in an aggressive manner by the President of Liberia, Mr. George Manneh Weah. He said to me, and I quote, ‘Goodridge, are you enjoying democracy in Liberia?” I was surprised by the question and lost for words.
“I moved away from the President. He approached me again, and repeated the question several times, ‘Goodridge, I say, ehn you enjoying democracy in Liberia?’ Before I could find an answer, he said to me, “Look at you. You are a rogue. You stole my car and burned down my house.’ I responded to the President that what he had said was a lie, and there was an intense exchange of words between us.
“The President made these false allegations in an angry tone surrounded by his bodyguards, in the presence of his wife, Mrs. Clar Weah, Lusinee F. Kamara, Political Leader of the All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP), and Rev. David Kermue, Political Leader of the Democratic People’s Party of Liberia (DPPL).”
He reasoned that the President’s alleged verbal assault on him as a political leader in the opposition community, in the presence of his armed bodyguards, and other members of his government in the wake of speculations of extra-judicial killings of auditors and other persons in Liberia serves as a license for him to be killed.
According to Mr. Goodridge, the general response has been one of shock, dismay and alarm, adding, “Many are questioning the motive of the president, especially moments after he affixed his signature to the Farmington River Declaration which states among other issues on page 3, count 6 and 8, under the heading, Campaign Management, as follows:”
Count 6: “Refrain from making or causing to make in our names or that of our party, or coalition, any public statements, pronouncements, declarations or speeches, or use of language, online or offline, that have the propensity to incite any form of violence or intimidation and human rights abuses before, during and after elections…”
Count 8: “Refrain from on and offline disinformation, fake news and online manipulation that will influence or polarize public opinion or promote skepticism towards the electoral process and institutions and, in the end, undermine the integrity of the democratic process.”
The Rainbow Alliance standard bearer and political leader asserted the fact that the President violated the Farmington River Declaration a few moments after he made a keynote address and pledged that he and his government will abide by the letter of the agreement is cause for concern, not only for the Rainbow Alliance, but all other opposition political institutions.
Flashback: President George Weah addresses the Farmington Declaration 2023, immediately after which he reportedly attacked verbally the political leader and standard bearer of the opposition Rainbow Alliance, Reginald Goodridge for allegedly ‘stealing his vehicle and burning his house’ but Goodridge denied the allegation vehemently.
“Moreover, the president’s verbal assault on me as a political leader in the opposition community, in the presence of his armed bodyguards, and other members of his government in the wake of speculations of extra-judicial killings of auditors and other persons in Liberia serves as a license to have me killed,” Mr. Goodridge stated.
Meanwhile, many Liberians who called in on JOY FM 101.5 on Friday, April 7, 2023 advised Mr. Goodridge to pursue his legal suit against President Weah, because the Liberian leader is reportedly noted for putting Liberians in harms’ way, referencing his outburst against Ms. Telia Urey when she contested Montserrado District #15 representative seat by-election, BBC Jonathan Pay-Layleh, who he said reported negative stories against him when he (Weah) was playing as a professional footballer.
At the same time, political pundits told IPNEWS that the alleged conduct of the President against a fellow standard bearer and political leader of a political party, Reginald Goodridge is against democracy, which he said his administration is striving to enhance in Liberia. “President Weah always shoots himself in the leg with his utterances forgetting to know he is the leader of the nation who should be there for every Liberian, but rather he threatens and puts them in harms’ way, giving rise for his numerous supporters to target his political opponents,” the political pundits noted.
