MONROVIA — Mulbah Morlu Tuesday evening stunned many with the shock announcement that he was resigning as chairman of the Congress of Democratic Change (CDC). “One factor influencing my decision is the diminishing opportunity for me to effectively fulfill my role as the people’s chairman. As an advocate dedicated to supporting the people, it is disheartening to encounter constraints that limit my ability to carry out my responsibilities,” Morlu said in a Facebook page.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Morlu, however, clarified that he was only standing down from his position but remains a member of the party.
Why quit now?
Morlu said he was clear “in my head and in my heart” that this was the right time to resign. FrontPageAfrica gathered that Morlu was drained by the unrelenting and unforgiving marginalization by the party’s standard bearer and former president George Weah since a leaked audio of him ill discussing Weah two years ago.
And Morlu, in his resignation letter, appeared to have confirmed a strained relationship he faced with Weah. “Undoubtedly, I have faced numerous challenges, particularly during the past six years of the CDC’s governance. However, I hold no resentment towards anyone for these difficulties, and I do not desire conflict,” he said.
Factor behind Morlu’s resignation
It appeared clear by implication that those internal battles within the CDC had contributed to, and perhaps even accelerated, Morlu’s decision. In one telling moment was Mr. Weah’s recent decision to suspend all activities Morlu had planned to organize a retreat in Grand Bassa County, on grounds that he wasn’t informed.
Mr. Weah wrote: “I learned through social media and the press that you have organized a retreat of the CDC to be held in Grand Bassa County. As Standard Bearer, I was never consulted and therefore had not import in the organization and structuring of such a retreat. Also, several members of the Governing Council and the National Executive Committee have informed me that they too were not involved in the planning of said retreat.”
He added: “Mr. Chairman, the constitution and Coalition document gives the power of such decisions to the National Executive Committee and the Governing Council in the absence of a national convention. As head of the Governing Council, I will be convening a meeting of the council before February end at the National HQ to set the stage for an honest review of our recent electoral performance and reboot for the future. You are therefore asked to suspend all activities of the planned retreat until a final decision by the GC and the NEC is made.”
Continuing, Mr. Weah added: “I also want to bring to your attention the recent leadership set up by the CDC Legislative Caucus. Again, that leadership was set up without any recourse or consultation with the leadership of the party and its relevant organs. Even some members of the CDC Legislative caucus were not informed not did they participate in the exercise that led to the setting up of the leadership. As such, we As a party can not.recognize that leadership until the right things are done in keeping with the party’s protocols.”
What does Morlu’s resignation mean for CDC
Undoubtedly it is a significant setback, according to political pundits. Morlu has been CDC’s chairman for nearly six years, directing strategies and strengthening the party’s cells across the country with his distinctive political agenda.
Now a slew of opinion polls in Bong and other counties show that Morlu’s resignation is deeply unpopular among partisans. Many partisans, weighing in on a local radio station in Bong County, say the party should be more concerned about returning to power than having internal conflict.
Before his resignation, Morlu told FrontPageAfrica he had planned to reawaken the hopes of partisans across the country with a nationwide tour.
Now, however, it appears the CDC will be overshadowed by the battle of who becomes Morlu’s successor.
