Former President George Weah has waded into the political firestorm surrounding Senator Edwin Snowe’s recent controversial remarks about President Joseph Nyuma Boakai administration. In a statement posted to a WhatsApp group, Weah defended the Bomi County Senator, echoing Snowe’s sentiment that he wishes for Boakai’s presidency to fail, and argued that such perspectives are natural in the heat of political rivalry.
“Folks, nobody should bully Hon. Snowe for his statement,” Weah said. “Simply because when Boakai threatened to end Liberia, nobody said anything.”
Weah, who served as Liberia’s president from 2018 to 2024, asserted that Liberia’s democracy allows freedom of speech for all political actors, whether in power or opposition, and accused critics of applying double standards.
“This is democracy at its best. Calm down folks,” he wrote. “We are all Liberians and we have the right to our opinions. Boakai had his right to his opinion as an opposition then, when he stated that he will finish Liberia if he doesn’t win the elections. He was never questioned because we live in a democratic society. Why are we questioning Hon. Snowe who is an opposition that wishes Boakai fails?”
Weah’s remarks follow public backlash against Senator Snowe, who openly stated that he does not want President Boakai to succeed. Snowe’s comment sparked national debate, with many citizens, civil society organizations, and commentators condemning the statement as unpatriotic and counterproductive.
But Weah insisted Snowe’s position is not unusual in the realm of politics. “Let us be mindful that in any competition nobody wishes for his opponent to succeed. Simple logic,” the former president stated.
Weah also took a jab at Boakai’s leadership, accusing the current president of claiming credit for projects initiated during his administration. “Boakai [is] claiming all the projects we built that he condemned before. Peace folks,” he added.
The comments have reignited discussions about patriotism, political maturity, and the responsibilities of public officials in fostering national unity and development. Critics argue that wishing for the failure of a sitting president equates to wishing failure for the country, while supporters of Weah and Snowe insist it is a matter of political expression.
As Liberia continues to navigate its post-election transition and governance under the Unity Party-led administration, the former president’s message signals a deepening of partisan lines, and a reminder that the wounds of the 2023 election cycle remain far from healed.
