EJS Speaks on Charles’ T-5 Endorsement -Says Son Grown Enough to Make Decision – But His Endorsement Not in Consultation with His Family

Following former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Charles Sirleaf’s recent endorsement of Montserrado County District #5 Representative Thomas Fallah for the Montserrado County senate, in which Representative Fallah lauded Mr. Sirleaf for endorsing his candidacy, and for his family being part of such monumental decision, former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has distanced herself and the family from the decision of her son, acknowledging that Mr. Charles Sirleaf is a full grown man who has the right to make his own decision.

Speaking exclusively with The Analyst over the weekend, former President Sirleaf said she was out of the country for three weeks and had just returned last Wednesday, November 18, 2020 when she was told by one of her staff that they saw on Facebook that her son Charles endorsed Thomas Fallah, a senatorial candidate for Montserrado County in the midterm election.

“I immediately called Charles and he answered my call but the noise in the background suggested that he was in the midst of the crowd so I said we will deal with this tomorrow. Subsequently I received the video of the event at which he made this endorsement at his small guest house. Charles is a man well in age so he has the right to make his own decision,” Madam Sirleaf stated emphatically.

“However, I heard a statement that his endorsement is a family decision. It is false, not true – They have to define family, but the family I know never had consultation and is in full disagreement with his decision,” “Iron Lady” Sirleaf stated clearly.

Former President Sirleaf’s statement comes in the wake in her son’s endorsement of Representative Thomas Fallah in his bid to wrestle the Montserrado County seat from incumbent opposition politician Abraham Darius Senator who in 2019 caused one of the biggest upsets in contemporary Liberian politics by defeating the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change in their own stronghold hands down with more than 100,000 votes.

Endorsing Rep. Fallah, Mr. Sirleaf said he has nothing to hide.

“I am not keeping it secret. I am not hiding it. Let me be frank. My mouth is wide open. I will support Thomas Fallah for Senator of Monsterrado County,” the former CBL deputy governor stated.

Responding to his endorsement, Representative Fallah praised Mr. Sirleaf for taking the courage to endorse him despite the hullabaloo that attended his recent trial.

“On behalf of the team, let me say thank you so much. This will take us a long way as an individual, as an institution. You may see this to be common or little, but it’s very serious because the leadership of this country, the ruling party, today will be very elated because of who Mr. Charles Sirleaf is; the individual that has served this country, a reputable individual, a statesman. And in politics, these are things that we look for. Sometimes it’s not about the crowd, but just one individual speaks volume. So for Charles Sirleaf to sit in our midst today, to say I support your candidacy, by extension I support your party… In the midst of all the hullabaloo, you did not lose focus, you’ve been steadfast,” Representative Fallah enthused.

Continuing, Representative Fallah said he was not only fortunate to have served his country, but to work under the regime of Madam Sirleaf for the past 12 years.

“I have said it many times, probably what is being done today is unknown to my very self and my colleagues. We served under your mother’s regime. I had the opportunity to work in your mother’s regime for 12 years and we had positive relationships. We respected her. Not a day we insulted her, but we respectfully disagreed in the interest of our country where necessary. Unlike today, our opposition we have, all they have to do is to insult national leadership. I think we need to change that because the Liberian people, our younger generation, are caretakers after us, so what we do represents us and also our country,” he stressed.

“Our chairman was also elated when he heard that Mr. Sirleaf has agreed to openly endorse our candidacy. He would have loved to be here. We will take this to the presidency. We extend our gratitude to “your family because I know this should be a family decision. You had consultation before coming to this conclusion”. I believe that from here today, a lot will be said, and I know you being a political person who’s been around for a while, to take this decision there had to be family discussion because there will be some feedback. But I know whatever decision is made today will serve us positively going forward,” candidate Fallah stated.

Other government officials of the governing CDC party who were in attendance included Montserrado County District #8 Representative Acarous Gray, Montserrado County District # 15 Representative Dixon Seboe, and Ministry of Commerce Inspector General Josephine Davies.