MONROVIA – Former Liberian President and political leader of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), George Manneh Weah, angrily walked out his party’s National Youth Day program following an abrupt power outage. The CDC, however, attributed the incident to what it called the “weaponization” of the opposition community by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The event, held over the weekend at the CDC headquarters in Congo Town, combined the celebration of the party’s National Youth Day with the birthday of CDC Secretary General Jefferson Tamba Koijee.
September 7 is commemorated annually by the CDC as National Youth Day, with this year’s festivities beginning with a parade featuring top officials from the CDC National Youth League and the National Executive Committee. Political militants accompanied the parade, chanting battle cries as they marched through the streets.
The day’s celebrations were set to conclude with an indoor ceremony, featuring the party’s political leader and former President Weah. As the compound filled to capacity with party militants adorned in CDC paraphernalia, they chanted songs to which the former president nodded approvingly from the stage around 8:00 p.m.
However, according to our reporter on the scene, less than 15 minutes into the program, the power at the CDC headquarters abruptly went out, bringing the joyous atmosphere to an abrupt halt. In response, an evidently displeased Weah left the event, accompanied by Secretary General Koijee, Acting National Chair Atty. Augustus Janga Kowo, and other top CDC officials.
Weah retreated to his office with the officials but soon left the compound entirely, followed by Kowo and others. Koijee remained on the grounds with several CDC partisans.
In response to the power outage, Koijee pointed fingers at President Boakai, accusing him of orchestrating the blackout. “We are not surprised by Mr. Boakai’s actions. This is not the first time, and it’s a clear weaponization of the opposition community, especially targeting the CDC,” Koijee remarked.
He stressed that the CDC remains undeterred by the Boakai administration’s alleged efforts to undermine the opposition. “Nothing can deter us from constructively and politically engaging this wicked government. We will confront them with the real issues they have failed to address in the interest of the Liberian people.”
Several CDC supporters echoed Koijee’s sentiments, accusing President Boakai of instructing the Liberia Electricity Corporation to disconnect power to the CDC’s premises in an attempt to sabotage the event. They alleged that while power was cut at the CDC headquarters, surrounding homes and communities remained unaffected.
The power outage disrupted key moments of the event, including the planned certification of party partisans and youth leaders, which was expected to be one of the ceremony’s highlights.
Adding to the disappointment, popular Liberian musicians Christoph The Change, Takun J, and DenG were expected to perform but could not take the stage. Takun J and Christoph, however, performed off-stage before Koijee, with Takun J dedicating his two new songs to the CDC. “Today is our leader’s birthday, and we are here to show our support,” the artists stated.
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