Liberian laureate Calls For Integrity Among Politicians

Liberian Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee says some Liberian political leaders during this year’s electoral season have been behaving like what she calls “clever devils.” She says a “clever devil” is an individual who, although educated, lacks character and practices politics without principles. Gbowee won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 alongside then President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for helping to end Liberia’s long civil war. Her observation comes as losing candidates in the first round of Liberia’s October 10 elections have been endorsing either President George Weah or former Vice President Joseph Boakai, the two candidates in the runoff. Gbowee tells VOA’s James Butty, some of the politicians lack character, integrity, and truth in their conversations and interactions, and she fears for Liberian youth who idolize them.