President’s Son James Sirleaf Attacks His Mother’s Critics

Opposition criticisms and public outrage at what is regarded by some pundits as “unpardonable failures” of President Sirleaf has increased in recent months. These criticisms are given teeth and substance by repeated revelations of national budget shortfalls, a persistent rise in prices of essential goods, unprecedented foreign exchange regime with the Liberian dollars in the disadvantageous, coupled with Government’s unkempt response to the deadly Ebola virus, amongst others. Amid the rising opposition censures also come calling for the President’s resignation, though other members of the public think it would not be the sensible democratic trajectory of the post-conflict nation.

The incessant censures are getting on the nerves of others, particularly family members of President Sirleaf, who believe, in the words of one, critics of the President are blinded by extremist opposition mentality to see how far she has catapulted into a failed state.

In a statement release yesterday, the President’s first son, James E. Sirleaf said of critics: “The Flagship actors and failed politicians are now carrying a banner supposedly under the mantle of an incorruptible dedicated opposition. They are at it again, bent on undermining constituted and elected Government and the common good of the citizens of the Republic of Liberia.”

According to Mr. Sirleaf, Liberia has obtained literally billions of good investment monies from decent corporate and private capital firms because of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s election as President of Liberia, adding, “Investors have implicit faith and trust in her leadership. The international community continues to come to her aid wholeheartedly in famine and in health.” “Woe to you for the same will definitely not be true in other leaders who simply just lack international creditworthiness and global appeal,” the President’s son said.

“These buffoons now want to link the President to a scandal involving only a few hundred thousand dollars allegedly benefitting her immediate family members.” Mr. Sirleaf, General Manager of the Monrovia Oil Trading Corporation said, “I personally reject this innuendo and stand ready to protect myself and our family members.” If President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had lost the 2011 election, he said, “then let it be said that some of us would still stand firm in our beliefs and faith in her leadership qualities.”

“I for instance am the first born son of the President. I work in private enterprise and still make a decent, independent living,” he boasted, and added: “For all this President has done to try to lift up the Liberian people and the Liberian nation, I am very proud that I can work in business and still have full devotion to make a difference for the country even though I get no personal benefits.” Mr. Sirleaf, who is a private businessman, further said:

“My daughter is 23 years old. She is currently doing a Masters of Law (LLM) at Duke University, which is in the top ten Law Schools in USA. I am privately underwriting her education charges. “Are the President’s children included in remuneration in the annual budget?

No! Do they get per diem, or allocations as Senators and members of the House of Representatives? No! And what about the past history? What do you perceive will be the case for future governments after the Sirleaf administration steps down in 2017/2018?

Ask yourself this question and take it very seriously. What happens to Liberia then? What about the past governments over the last 25 years? What about education, growth, skills and training obtained by the youth and the responsiveness of those governments to their personal development needs? Ask yourselves what has changed?”

“Talk is cheap!” he asserted further. “Did you ever visit JFK in the 1980s and 1990s? Yes, I know and you should be persuaded that much has changed!” Mr. Sirleaf expressed the hope that “We are determined to see this nation through the Ebola health, cancer and with perseverance, it will happen in spite of the many detractors that try to sabotage the Government operations.”

He noted that decent people and the silent majority in the country are in full support of our elected government and the security apparatus will not stand for any disruptions or attempts to discredit them and jeopardize the state of affairs, the general health of the majority of the citizens of this country, the rule of law and peace governance in this country.