When the flight touched down, the teaming crowd went wide in all directions of the airport, as well as those who could not find their way there.
Despite the huge presence of uniform, and plain clothes security personnel, former President George Weah returned to Liberia on Wednesday, September 2, but beyond the expected excitement, massive crowds, and political spectacle, a fundamental question remains.
There is no doubt that Weah remains one of the most popular political figures, with the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) retaining an extraordinary ability to mobilize supporters.
One of those among the crowd shouting with joy was former Representative Moses Acarous Gray, embraced by loyalists.
But popularity, and crowd size are not necessarily measuring of political success, good governance, or electoral victory.
From 2005 to the present, the CDC has never struggled to attract large crowds. Its ability to fill streets, stadiums, and public spaces has remained one of its greatest political strengths.
While it is true Wednesday’s event remained crowd drawing up to wee-wee hours, history shows that crowd politics alone has repeatedly proven insufficient against the Unity Party, and the CDC, which has won three of four post-war democratic elections.
Yesterday, CDC supporters gathered at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) and welcomed Weah, just as they did during his return last December, such a turnout is neither new, nor surprising.
The more surprising development would be the absence of CDC supporters, particularly during a period when several prominent figures associated with the former administration are facing serious legal challenges.
For that, former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor is reportedly in detention pending trial in a major drug-related case, while former Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bundoo is facing corruption charges, and has repeatedly struggled to meet bail requirements.
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, is also facing corruption charges, while legal challenges involving other former government officials, and CDC figures continue to dominate public discussion.
These developments, combined with the enduring loyalty, many supporters have toward Weah, almost certainly encouraged large numbers of people, who turned out en-masse.
But the central political question, is not whether the CDC filled the airport, it is whether crowd politics alone can deliver victory for the party in 2029?
