MONROVIA – The political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Mr. Alexander Cummings, has predicted that the embattled conglomeration of opposition political parties of which he is a member, the Collaborating Opposition Political Parties (CPP), may not go to the 2023 Presidential and General Elections as a common front, at least, not in its current composition.
The CPP deal was cemented in 2019 among the All Liberian Party, the Liberty Party, Unity Party and the Alternative National Congress (ANC).
The goal was to present a solidified opposition against the Weah-led government which they believe is characterized by misrule.
Although the CPP was a force to reckon with in the 2020 Special Senatorial Elections which saw many of its candidates perform overwhelmingly against the ruling party, its popularity steeply dwindled when the heads of the CPP began an internal fight amongst themselves and failed to contain the fight.
Ironically, Alexander Cummings, is currently being tried by the government that the CPP sought to oust democratically, and the government’s witnesses are his colleagues from the CPP.
Mr. Benoni Urey and the All Liberian Party (ALP) filed a suit against Cummings, alleging that Cummings had forged the signature of the ALP leaders and placed same on an altered version CPP Framework Document.
Last week, the Solicitor General, Cllr. Syrennius Cephus, who was once the lawyer for the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), announced that former Vice President Joseh Boakai of the Unity Party, Mo Ali, Secretary General of the Unity Party and Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence will be testifying against Cummings.
Cummings has remained firm on his denial of the allegation an claimed it is only intended to tarnish his reputation due to his constant disagreements on how matters are proceeded with in the CPP. He wondered how the Framework Document allegedly altered by him could bring so much victory to the CPP in the Senatorial elections and he would not be adversely affected by the very document that governs the CPP of which he is a constituent member.
However, the State has vowed to prove a case against Cummings on behalf of the rest of the members of the CPP.
In fact, the ALP has announced its withdrawal from the CPP – something Mr. Cummings has welcomed, believing that Mr. Urey is being manipulated by the government.
It is also rumored that the ALP, the UP, LP and other political parties are having meetings for the formation of the Coalition of Unity Party (CUP).
In his response to President Weah’s Annual Message, Mr. Cummings on Monday said, it is likely that the CPP, in its current composition, may not go to the polls in 2023.
“Despite our best efforts, it has to be admitted that as currently constituted, the CPP may not make it to 2023. But you, the Liberian people, collectively will make it to 2023. The CPP may have been your preferred vehicle for change but the need to change ought not to end because the preferred vehicle broke down along the way. Only the failed leadership of President Weah will benefit if we give up on the need to change the direction of our country. We must never give up – we must never lose hope!” Mr. Cummings said.
He lamented that Pres. Weah’s administration has been marred by his officials of government attaining for themselves wealth and properties for themselves overnight, while the Liberian people are being deceived, being kept poor and divided.
Cummings called for the “cleansing of our nation’s soul” which he believes would bring about unity amongst Liberians.
“We recognize the importance of dressing up the body of our country – building roads and sports parks. But the real changes we must also make is to clean up our nation’s soul so that we never again destroy our country, or pull each down when we should be building and lifting each other up – so that no Liberian child is limited to what they can become because of their gender, tribe or religion,” he said.
He added, “When we clean our nation’s soul we ensue that no Liberian needs to feel excluded, marginalized or denied opportunities in their own country because they are opposition, or come from a different region, ethnicity or religion – so that all of our children, boys and girls, have the best opportunity to be the best adult versions of themselves because they have access to the best quality education and can strive for excellence right here in Liberia.”
The ANC political leader lamented the level of corruption being reported under the Weah-led administration as he challenged the President to lead by example in the fight against corruption by publicly declaring his assets.
“I urge him to publicly declare his assets, and encourage officials of his government to do the same. Make no mistake about this: As President, I will publicly declare my assets year on year, and will instruct the forensic audit of all expenditures of the current Liberian government, and wherever it is determined that those with fiduciary responsibility turned a blind eye to their duties and or facilitated the conversion of public funds to private use, such individuals will face the full weight of the law regardless of who you are. We have to get serious about stopping the stealing,” Cummings said.
According to him, President Weah’s description of the state of the nation’s economy is false and shows a sense of insensitivity and a disconnection from the reality confronting the Liberian people and the economy continues to deteriorate.
“The President has failed, and is now hoping to deceive Liberians with even more promises. It has been reported that out of the 169 promises the President has made, he has only kept 11, which is a score of 7%. Obviously, President Weah is good at making promises, and very bad at fulfilling promises,” Mr. Cummings said.