MONROVIA – The need for a Boakai-Cummings ticket for the October presidential elections has been overemphasized by supporters of the opposition bloc, however, the possibility of such happening seems to be mere wishful thinking.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
The issue lies beyond the two political leaders – Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party (UP) and Alexander Cummings of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) – agreeing to rejoin ranks for the sole purpose of defeating the incumbent, soccer legend George Weah, whom they claim is incompetent to lead the country.
The Problem
Both supporters of Boakai and Cummings have been jittery over the recommendations from some political actors calling for a united ticket from the pair. Their arguments on ‘to be or not to be’ intensified last week when Amb. Boakai in an interview with VOA’s Daybreak Africa said though the UP left the CPP, it never closed its doors and that he remains open to collaboration.
Despite quitting the CPP – the opposition conglomeration that comprised the UP, Liberty Party, All Liberian Party and the Alternative National Congress – and leaving behind a sour relationship among the parties, Amb. Boakai said he and Cummings remain “good friends”.
The CPP broke apart as a result of ALP’s Benoni Urey accusing Cummings of tampering with the CPP’s Framework Document. Cummings vehemently denied the allegation. However, Cummings was dragged to court by the Weah-led government for forgery and criminal conspiracy on grounds that the alleged crime was committed against the state.
Amb. Boakai and other members of the UP and ALP testified against Cummings in court. The case was, however, later dropped by the government. In his interview with the VOA last week, Boakai said, “Alex [Alexander Cummings] and I will always be friends and political collaboration is always necessary because we came together to defeat Weah and we’re still strong on that Weah needs to be defeated, we need all hands on board so our arms are always open to further discussions, we never close doors”.Boakai, however, came under a barrage of criticisms for doing too little about the when the CPP reached its highest decline and eventually broke into pieces right under his watch.
Others argue that Boakai, having worked in government for much of his life, should not be needing the Collaborating Political Parties to bill him out in order to be a serious contender as a presidential candidate in the October elections.
“The Liberian people know who you are. Didn’t you run for president in the 2017 presidential elections? Weren’t you Vice President of the Republic of Liberia in the Sirleaf-Boakai Administration from 2006 through 2018? In the pending 2023 presidential election, are you willing to run on your accomplishments as Vice President in the Sirleaf-Boakai Administration?” asked Charles Anders, in a comment on FrontPageAfrica’s website.
Dolly Nelson also commented on Facebook: “I guess he has forgotten he tried to destroy CPP and walked away! Now he’s calling for unification! Is he really serious? He told the world and the Liberian people he doesn’t know Mr. Cummings when he testified against Mr. Cummings in court!!”
Despite these arguments, the calls for the two opposition leaders to form one ticket is strongly believed to be the surest way of taking over power from Pres. Weah in October.
Former Maryland County Senator John Ballout, former Special Aide to Cummings, Taa Wongbe, Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, among others, have all called on the pair to join forces for the purpose of winning the October elections.
Former Sen. Ballout believes that a ticket that will carry former Vice President Joseph Boakai as standard bearer and Mr. Alexander Benedict Cummings as vice standard bearer would be a one-round winnable ticket.
In his justification, he said owing to his experience in politics, former Vice President Joseph Boakai, who served two terms, is the most prepared to redeem Liberia.
He added that Cummings being a person with the greatest understanding and knowledge and capacity to transform this country can make a good vice president.
“It must be reminded that in politics and political arrangements, no one gets everything and in the midst of harsh political realities, there must be room for compromise for the sake of political strength,” he said.
Back to the Basis
Amid these calls and Boakai’s expressed openness for a collaboration, the chairman of the new CPP, Musa H. Bility, stated on social media that in order for the two men to appear on one ticket, they must go back to the dictates of the CPP Framework document which calls for primaries.
He wrote: “We had a collaboration that the Liberian people craved. We won the midterm elections in 2020. You plotted to destroy it. When you failed, you went to court to get out of it. Now that all your so-called expectations have fallen flat, you come crawling and peddling this nonsense of a “united ticket”. Well, CPP is still alive and kicking. If you want a united ticket, come back let’s go through the process intended to give us a truly united ticket. Otherwise, let’s face Weah separately and commit to uniting around whoever faces off with him in a run-off.”
Section 10.5.1.2 of the original CPP Framework Document states: “The Presidential Aspirants of the four initial parties shall have until December 1, 2021 to, by consensus, decide/agree on and name a presidential ticket, including a running mate…”Section 10.5.2.1 also states: “Where the Presidential Aspirants of the CPP fail or are unable to decide/agree on and name a presidential ticket, including a running mate, on or before December 1, 2021, the CPP shall conduct a non-binding Voters’ perception surveys (VPS) funded by the CPP, for the purpose of informing the four parties and its delegates on the views of the general public in preparation for primaries. For the purpose of accurately determining the political marketability and voters’ preference of presidential and Legislative Candidates, the VPS shall include the four Standard Bearers or Legislative candidates of each of the CPP constituent parties as survey subjects (SS), and in addition, also obtain voters’ preference and perception about other influentially potential presidential and legislative aspirants from within and outside of the CPP, as Standard Bearer.”
Chairman Bility’s comments on Facebook attracted a lot of pros and cons reactions.
Joseph Kollie: “My long time friend Musa Hassan Bility , let’s put aside our differences, come together, form a united front and move forward. The writings are on the walls that Joseph Boakai is the leading contender against George Weah. Cummings would have greater advantage of serving the country as a Vice President and succeed Joseph Boakai after. Take this to the bank!
Emmanuel T Dickson also reacted: “Chairman, let’s forgive Up and move on.This is about Liberia and I know the pain they caused Mr. Cummings, but for the sake of Liberian people let’s find a common ground. We should not allow these paid agents to destroy the opposition community. Librarians need better.
Sakadoss Kilidoe, another Liberian, weighed in when he said: “JNB’s (Joseph N. Boakai’s) statement doesn’t in any way suggest that he’s begging CPP. He was only responding to the majority of Liberians in the opposition’s bloc constantly appealed. The fact remains, the majority of opposition Liberians and undecided voters feel that JNB is the most formidable candidate that can defeat President Weah but cannot do it alone. The truth is conspicuous. For example, CPP called for “WE TIRED SUFFERING PROTEST”. Look at how poorly it was attended. Currently, the reason the entire opposition bloc is not actively engaging in campaign activities is that JNB has not announced his running mate. Take it, the day JNB announces his running mate, all the other opposition presidential candidates will start to announce theirs. This is a fact. JNB is the most popular opposition. Another advantage, Unity Party is a grounded political party in Liberia that has committed members from all over Liberia. I have many officials in the CDC who are my friends. They admit to me every day that they see they and UP still going to the second round of the elections and are afraid that it may not be like 2017.”
