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Liberian Opposition Leader Defends U.S. Trip with President Sirleaf

   Eugene  Nagbe, secretary general of George Weah's CDC party says there
   was no quid pro quo in traveling with the president

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 27 May 2010

   President Sirleaf Addressing the 52nd National Legislature of Liberia

   Liberian  President  Ellen  Johnson  Sirleaf is scheduled to meet with
   U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington Thursday.

   The  White  House  said  earlier  this  week that the two leaders will
   discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.

   Traveling  with  President Sirleaf on her trip to the United States is
   Eugene  Nagbe,  secretary general of George Weahâs opposition Congress
   for Democratic Change (CDC).

   Rumors circulating in parts of Monrovia that the CDC was being courted
   by President to support her re-election in next yearâs elections.

   But,  Nagbe  said  there  was  no  quid  pro  quo  in accompanying the
   president.

   âIt  has  been  the tradition of President Sirleaf that when she makes
   these  foreign visits, she invites members of the opposition to travel
   with her to represent the country. The CDC as a political party is not
   adverse to this. When we have the opportunity to engage the government
   in this manner we do it,â he said.

   Nagbe  categorically  dismissed  suggestions  that  the  CDC was being
   courted by President Sirleaf.

   He  said  such rumors were being peddled by those he said were against
   peace in Liberia.

   âThe  CDC as a political party has been in the vanguard of putting the
   interest of the Liberian people (first) and we will continue to do so.
   These  rumors,  these gossips are not accidental. They are the work of
   people  who  donât  like  peace,  who  donât like Liberia, and who are
   desirous of seeing our party split up,â he said.

   Weah  said  the CDC has a policy of engaging not only other members of
   the opposition but also the ruling party.

   Nagbe  said  the  CDC has been in talks with other opposition parties,
   but  he  denied  that CDC leader George Weahâs ego that only he can be
   president was making efforts toward a merger difficult.

   âWhat  the executive committee of the CDC has done is to agree to have
   discussions  with  other  members  of the opposition. These are geared
   toward  ensuring  that  we  can  have  a  single platform. There is no
   precondition  on  our  part.  If  the  CDC  goes  into  an alliance, a
   coalition  or  whatever  with  any other political party, the terms of
   that merger, that coalition would be determined,â Nagbe said.

   Nagbe  said  the  CDC  supports a full implementation of the Truth and
   Reconciliation Commission (TR) report.

   He  called on President Sirleaf to adhere to the law which created the
   TRC and implement the report.

   âIt is the duty of the president to report after 90 days, and that has
   passed, to the national legislature about progress she has made in the
   implementation  of  the TRC report. If she doesnât do that she doesnât
   do  that,  it  is  the  job  of  the  national legislature to call the
   president  and find out why that hasnât been done. So the CDC position
   is  that the law that created the TRC must be followed to the letter,â
   he said.

   VOA  was  supposed  to  interview  President  Sirleaf  today,  but the
   interview  was  canceled  because  of  conflict in President Sirleafâs
   schedule.

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