"Vision Rogues": Former President Weah's Chief of Staff Calls Out Unity Party-Led Government
- Michael T
- Apr 1
- 5 min read
Lenn Eugene Nagbe, the Chief of Staff to former Liberian President George Weah, has sharply criticized the Unity Party-led government of President Joseph Boakai, describing the administration as "Vision Rogues" for allegedly appropriating credit for projects initiated under the previous government while failing to launch new initiatives of their own.
Accusations of Taking Credit for CDC Government Projects
During a live interview on the breakfast talk show "OK Morning Rush," Mr. Nagbe delivered a pointed critique of the current administration, asserting that President Boakai's government has failed to initiate any projects of its own while taking pride in many projects initiated by former President Weah without properly acknowledging the previous administration's efforts.
"The Boakai administration has demonstrated a concerning pattern of claiming credit for development projects that were conceptualized, funded, and initiated during President Weah's tenure," Nagbe stated during the interview. "They present these ongoing projects to the Liberian people as if they were their own achievements, which constitutes a form of political dishonesty that the public should recognize."
Nagbe specifically identified several major infrastructure initiatives that began under Weah's leadership but are now being implemented without proper attribution. He named the Sackaypea to Tapeta corridor, the Tapeta to Toe Town road segment, and the Toe Town to Zwedru corridor as examples of critical transportation projects initiated by the Weah Administration which the Unity Party government is continuing without acknowledgment.
"The ELWA to RIA, Gabriel Tucker Bridge to St. Paul Bridge construction and rehabilitation, and the recently dedicated NaFAA-funded University annex are all projects that the CDC-led government started before it left power," Nagbe emphasized with evident frustration. He questioned why the current government has consistently failed to acknowledge these realities, suggesting it represents a deliberate strategy to diminish the Weah administration's legacy.
Critique of Executive Protective Services Leadership
The former Maritime Boss characterized the current head of the Executive Protective Services, Mr. Sam Gaye, as "incompetent and lacking the capacity to handle the protection of the Presidency." This assessment followed recent public statements by Gaye regarding presidential assets and vehicles.
Nagbe's criticism focused particularly on Gaye's recent allegations against former President Weah concerning a presidential vehicle. According to Nagbe, these allegations were "not only false and misleading but a testament of Mr. Gaye's incompetence" because the EPS director had acted on unverified rumors rather than conducting proper fact-finding.
"Instead of focusing on his core responsibility of ensuring presidential security, Mr. Gaye has engaged in spreading misinformation about assets that were properly managed during the transition of power," Nagbe asserted. "This demonstrates a concerning lack of professionalism in such a sensitive security position."
Clarification on Presidential Vehicle Ownership and Costs
Contrary to claims made by Mr. Gaye, Nagbe emphatically stated that the vehicle in question belongs personally to former President Weah. He challenged Gaye to acknowledge receipt of "several newly bought Land Cruiser Jeeps which were procured in August 2023 or thereabouts and turned over to the Unity Party government" during the transition of power.
"The transition team meticulously documented all government assets, including the fleet of vehicles that were purchased specifically to support the incoming administration," Nagbe explained. "For Mr. Gaye to now make allegations about a vehicle that is Mr. Weah's personal property shows either deliberate misrepresentation or a troubling lack of due diligence."
Nagbe also addressed ongoing public discussion about President Boakai's official vehicles, clarifying that the newly purchased armored Lexus vehicles for President Boakai cost $1.2 million United States dollars, contrary to the widely circulated figure of $400,000. This revelation adds context to recent public criticism regarding government expenditures on luxury vehicles.
"The Liberian people deserve transparency about how their resources are being utilized," Nagbe stated. "The current administration should be forthright about the actual cost of these vehicles rather than allowing misinformation to persist in public discourse."
Public Criticism of Current Administration
Recently, President Boakai and his government have come under intense criticism for the purchase of customized armor-plated vehicles that have been spotted in his presidential convoy. Critics have questioned the appropriateness of such expenditures given Liberia's economic challenges and the administration's campaign promises of fiscal restraint.
"During the campaign, Unity Party representatives consistently criticized the Weah administration for what they characterized as excessive spending," Nagbe noted. "The procurement of these expensive armored vehicles so early in their tenure raises legitimate questions about their commitment to the austerity measures they promised during the campaign."
Public Response to Nagbe's Comments
Several Liberians who participated in the show through call-in lines expressed strong support for Nagbe's statements and shared their own dissatisfaction with the current government's handling of state affairs. This public response suggests that his criticisms may be resonating with citizens who expected different performance from the Unity Party-led government.
"The volume and tone of calls we received during the program indicated significant public concern about the direction of the country under the new administration," the talk show host noted after the segment. "Many callers expressed appreciation for Mr. Nagbe's willingness to speak candidly about these sensitive political issues."
One caller from Monrovia stated, "The points raised by Mr. Nagbe reflect what many of us have been observing but haven't heard articulated by political leaders. The government needs to be honest about what they inherited and what they've actually initiated themselves."
Political Context and Implications
Nagbe's comments come within the broader context of Liberia's political transition following the 2023 elections. Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party defeated incumbent George Weah after a single term in office. The transition period was characterized by initial promises of continuity for beneficial projects alongside commitments to new approaches to governance.
"What we're witnessing now is a concerning pattern of revisionist history," Nagbe suggested. "Rather than acknowledging the positive initiatives they inherited and building upon them transparently, the current administration appears determined to obscure the origins of these projects for political advantage."
As a prominent figure from the former administration, Nagbe's criticisms serve to focus attention on questions about the current government's achievements and transparency in its early months in office. His "Vision Rogues" characterization presents a direct challenge to the Boakai administration's narrative about its accomplishments.
As the Boakai administration continues its second year in office, these criticisms may intensify debates about governance, accountability, and the appropriate attribution of national development initiatives. The public response to Nagbe's statements suggests that these issues resonate with many Liberians who are closely watching the performance of their new government and will hold them accountable for both their actions and their representations of those actions.
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Additional Sources:
[1] https://analystliberiaonline.com/pres-weah-is-man-of-peace-eugene-nagbe-debunks-pyj-up-allegations/
[11] https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-ex-president-weahs-office-refutes-allegations-of-withholding-presidential-vehicle-accuses-unity-party-govt-of-taking-undue-credits/"Vision Rogues": Former President Weah's Chief of Staff Calls Out Unity Party-Le
[14] https://smartnewsliberia.com/boakais-government-lacks-originality-claims-weahs-chief-of-staff/"Vision Rogues": Former President Weah's Chief of Staff Calls Out Unity Party-Le"Vision Rogues": Former President Weah's Chief of Staff Calls Out Unity Party-Le
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