Monrovia – An early collaboration between opposition political parties in Liberia to democratically unseat the governing Unity Party (UP) led-government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai could be haunted or stalled by the negative experiences which characterized and led to the dissolution of the once famous Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) in the country.
By Obediah Johnson
It can be recalled that four political parties including the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC), Liberty Party (LP), Unity Party (UP), and the All Liberian Party (ALP), formed a merger to politically combat against the ex-ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of former President George Weah, ahead of the mid-term senatorial elections in 2020.
However, the political alliance experienced serious internal wrangling over its leadership and the selection of candidates for the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
It was short-lived due to reports of alleged alteration of the original framework document which brought the parties together.
The framework document was signed by leaders of the four Political Parties in May 2020 and subsequently submitted to the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The political saga intensified in 2021 when the Political Leader of the ANC accused Mr. Cummings and other ANC officials of allegedly altering the framework document before its submission to the NEC. But Mr. Cummings denied the allegations. A criminal case filed in the matter by the ALP was also dropped.
As a result of these internal wranglings and disagreements, the ALP and UP withdrawn from the CPP in early 2022, along with a major faction of the LP. The impasse within the CPP also spilled over to the LP.
The Jamaica Resort’s collaboration talks
Despite the failure of opposition political parties to form a collaboration under the CPP in 2023, the former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has taken the lead to unite opposition political parties ahead of the 2029 general and presidential elections in Liberia.
The roundtable, which was presided over by ex-President George Weah, was intended for opposition leaders to discuss cooperation and the future direction of the opposition.
Two separate discussions were held with leaders of various opposition political parties including the ANC, MPC, CDC, MOVEE, amongst others.
Lessons learned
But the Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) Alexander Cummings appears to have drawn lessons from the collapse of the CPP merger.
Speaking in an interview with Reporters shortly after he worshiped at the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, outside Monrovia on Sunday, September 6, Mr. Cummings claimed that the ANC was victimized from the previous collaboration of opposition political parties in Liberia.
“We were in the CPP and we were victims of that situation. We remember those lessons and as we get back into collaboration conversation we should keep that in mind.”
He said those mistakes made cannot prevent opposition political parties from working together.
“The mistakes of the CPP should not stop us from working together. So, we will just be smarter and wiser about how we do it. But we need to work together as a country and as a people.”
When quizzed whether the ongoing efforts to ensure opposition collaboration would not be a replica of the CPP scenario, Mr. Cummings stated that: “it’s up to us.”
Ask them
Mr. Cummings observed that he has been consistently asked about his willingness to become a running mate to the leader of any political parties during the 2029 elections.
However, he challenged those making the inquiry, especially media practitioners, to ask similar to the political leaders of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) , Liberia People’s Party (LPP) and the Movement for Political Change (MPC) Representative Musa Bility, Tiawon Gongloe and Simeon Freeman respectively.
“For me, it’s about Liberia and not the position. It’s about lifting up our country and moving it forward. That’s what we should all be striving for.”
Don’t wish for failure
He further cautioned opposition leaders against instigating actions intended to ensure the failure of the present Unity Party led-government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Mr. Cummings said opposition politicians should desist from wishing for the failure of Liberia under the current administration.
He stressed that opposition leaders should desire for government to perform well to alleviate some of the sufferings and challenges citizens are faced with.
Mr. Cummings noted that addressing challenges confronting Liberia and its citizens should be the foremost priority of all opposition politicians.
He said opposition leaders should “push each other at the top” by supporting ideas for Liberia to move forward.
“We have to stop this crab mentality where we pull each other down. We should be working together to lift up the country. We should wish each other well; we should wish President (Joseph) Boakai well because if he’s doing well; if the country is doing well then, hopefully the suffering of our people is going down.”
Mr. Cummings vowed not to exercise any “crab mentality” by pulling others down to become successful in his political sojourn.
He said political leaders should have a positive mindset for the government and country in general.
He maintained that opposition politicians should not desist from seeing consistent criticism of the governance process of the country as the only mean to hold the government accountable.
Mr. Cummings stated that opposition leaders should proffer solutions to address challenges the country is faced with.
He expressed the hope that government would listen and act upon solutions proffered by opposition leaders to address these challenges.
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