Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s former Solicitor General, Cllr. Saymah Cyrenius Cephus, has delivered a scathing critique of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government, accusing it of promoting nepotism, mismanagement, and misplaced priorities during its six-year tenure under President George Manneh Weah.
In a social media post, Cllr. Cephus—who served under the CDC regime—explained why he is “unwilling and unable” to criticize the current administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, citing deep internal flaws that plagued the previous government.
Among his strongest remarks, Cephus described the CDC-led administration as having been “Weahcianized”—a term he coined to reflect what he sees as a distorted and dysfunctional style of governance. He likened former President Weah to a “Christmas light”, only visible during official ceremonies and inaccessible to the majority of Liberians.
Key Grievances Listed
Cllr. Cephus laid out eleven reasons for his position, which include:
- Neglect of Loyalists: He accused the former government of failing to promote and protect party loyalists who had championed the CDC during its opposition years.
- Misplaced Priorities: Cephus criticized the preference for hiring so-called “experts” and outsiders—such as the current Minister of Justice—over dedicated partisans.
- Toxic Internal Politics: He cited widespread gossip, backstabbing, and internal undermining within the ruling structure.
- Presidential Detachment: The former Solicitor General said President Weah was rarely seen or accessible, calling him “a Christmas light.”
- Poor Implementation: Despite initiating promising projects like the national population census, he claimed few tangible results were achieved.
- Cabinet Retreats Lacked Substance: Cephus described the retreats as opportunities for fun rather than serious governance discussions, calling President Weah the “Gopio”—a local term suggesting someone who enjoys entertainment more than substance.
- Favoritism and Recycled Politicians: He alleged the President trusted recycled politicians over loyal supporters.
- “Weahcianized” Governance: He compared the administration to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, claiming those born into poverty lived lavishly without merit.
- Compromised Foreign Policy: Cephus accused the administration of auctioning Liberia’s foreign policy to the highest bidder, referencing controversial votes against China at the international level.
- Nepotism: He claimed lucrative government jobs were reserved for the President’s close friends.
- Ethnic Imbalance in Power: Cephus pointed out what he viewed as ethnic centralization of power among southeasterners, particularly those from the Kru ethnic group.
A Reluctance to Criticize Boakai
Given these grievances, Cllr. Cephus said he finds it difficult to critique President Boakai’s government at this time. While acknowledging current challenges, he believes the flaws of the previous administration still weigh heavily on his conscience.
“When I think of all these, I feel guilty about criticizing the current government,” he admitted.
Capping his critique with a jab at the former President’s post-presidency behavior, Cephus added, “Our former President, who was fond of making music during his presidency, is now on social media dancing all over the place. What else is shameful and childish than this?”
His statement has sparked renewed debate across political and public circles, with many viewing it as a rare moment of introspection from a high-ranking former official of the Weah administration.
