I’m Committed to President Weah’s Second Term Bid - Howard Taylor

Her Excellency, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, the Vice President, Republic of Liberia is a rare gem; one politician whose tree of political relevance and strength cannot be cut down with razor blames. The former firstly lady has been a senior senator in the Liberia’s parliament representing Bong

County where she performed excellently to the admiration of the Liberian people. The first female Vice president in the country in this interview with Michael Adeboboye, President, Congress of African Journalists/CAJ International Magazine Editor-in-Chief, madam Taylor fondly called in the political landscape of Liberia speaks on her perception to life, marriage with the former president Taylor and divorce, Africa, support forPresidentWeah’s second term bid and otherinteresting issues. Excerpts:

But let me say that when I met Charles, he was neither a warlord nor an evil genius. As I look at the different sides of the man Charles GhankayTaylor,letmesaythaton the one side he was charismatic, a dependable father, a loyal friend andacaringleaderamongothers. The other side of him, during his war years before he became PresidentofLiberia,isastorytobe told by those who were a part of thestruggle.Iwasnotapartofthis phase of his life and will not describewhatIdidn'tsee.Youmay thenask;whythendidyoudivorce him? The answer is simpleJEALOUSY. As there were just too many Mrs. Taylors and in that scenario, the wildest got the attention(smile).Iwaslostandhad no idea how to cope, and so I withdrew from his personal circle and lived in a personal environment of confusion, anguishandinnerpain.

I believe that at this point, Africa is at the cusp of its finest hours yet. With the acceptable plan of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, the sky is just the beginning of the African Renaissance, which Former South African President Thabo Mbeki spoke of more than 30 years ago. He made a call for Africa to begin to look inward, believe, plan, develop, commit and dedicate all effortstotheAfricanRenaissance.I am a believer in the concept that Africa is the last frontier, thus African Nations must do all within their power to become the powerhouse of the future in a responsible way. Today, much is ongoing to break the biases, remove the barriers, collaborate, partner and work within our Continent which will have the largest population in the next 10 years and yet still controls the remaining 50 or more percent of the World's resources. It is incumbent upon all well-meaning African leaderstosupportthisnew African Agenda, which will make Africa independent, free from economic slavery, and give our young people the hope to believe again.