Ganta – Nimba County – It was a colorful event with hundreds of Nimbaians and residents of Ganta City turning out en mass to welcome Alexander Cummings – a man many have thought was a stranger to Liberian politics.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
Though indeed a stranger to Liberian politics, not many thought Cummings would have gained the support Nimbaians in such large numbers and seized the busy streets of Ganta over the weekend as they paraded with Cummings along the principal streets of the city.
Nimba is dominantly controlled by Senator Prince Y. Johnson, who is regarded as the ‘god-father’ of the county, as they believe he fought and protected the county against the oppression of the Samuel K. Doe government.
But the dice seems to be recast as it appeared last Saturday when the people of Nimba pledged their support to Cummings candidature in the 2017 presidential election.
Not deterred by the belief that Nimba County is the stronghold of Senator Johnson, Cummings has acknowledged that as a fact that every county has a favorite son and like Johnson he is the favorite son of Maryland County but promised to campaign in every county regardless of their favorites.
Cummings said: “I want to acknowledge Senator Johnson who is a favorite son of Nimba and it would be very disrespectful to come here and not acknowledge his strong presence and what he has done for the people of Nimba County, but we (ANC) have decided that we want to compete everywhere in Liberia.”
“We want to run a national campaign not a regional one.”
“As you know, I am from the southeast, Maryland specifically; and that is a region we will win but we need to win the entire country so we will compete everywhere.”
“We are not conceding any county to anybody. Yes, Senator Johnson is the favorite son for Nimba, but we are going to run a national campaign.”
Cummings believes that perception about him being a stranger in the Liberian politics is rapidly changing. He expressed optimism that more Liberians will in the coming days up to election year become familiar with the name Cummings and some of the qualities he brings to the Liberian presidency.
Asked why he believes he is the right man to become Liberia’s next president among more than 20 others he said: “I have been training for this job over my entire professional career without even realizing it. I bring very different experiences from almost all my opponents. I bring a strong business background.”
He believes his managerial skill and experience as one of the top executive in the Coca-Cola Company who has managed a budget over US$180 billion is something that gives him advantage in managing Liberia’s natural resources and finances.
The Alternative National Congress political leader boasted of creating jobs and mentoring Liberians in and out of Liberia.
He said, he is still committed to forming collaborations or coalition with other political parties like CDC of Senator George Weah.
“We think coalitions are the way to go; but they have to be the right coalition partners with same philosophy, same beliefs; and for us in the ANC, it is not just about winning the election but forming a government of inclusion because the task ahead of us to change and transform Liberia is huge so we are actively talking to other parties for coalition.
“We will make sure the benefit of our country touches everybody by engaging the hearts and minds of Liberians by having every Liberian involved.”
“We will find the money required to do the things we want to do. We will tackle waste and corruption.”
“We will be very aggressive in taking waste out of corruption. This is something I know how to do,” he asserted.
He also promised to invest in agriculture, education, and health by building the infrastructure required achieving them.
The Nimbaians formed an alliance dubbed “Nimba Alliance for Cummings” which comprise various youth and women groups vowed to work throughout the length and breadth of the county to ensure that Cummings emerges victorious in the 2017 elections