Monrovia – The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) is still building a huge constituency despite what seems to be a looming general merger in the opposition bloc, as many parties are now looking up to the CDC for political strength ahead of the 2017 general and presidential elections.
Report by J.H. Webster Clayeh [email protected]
“So they are our natural partner. In fact, CDC was created out of the NPP and so the alliance with the CDC is a natural alliance. So, I will be adding my voice to the National Executive committee that we form this alliance” – Sen. Jewel Howard Taylor
The National Patriotic Party (NPP) is the latest to disclose its intention of forming an alliance with the CDC.
At the party’s constitutional convention over the weekend in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, the NPP voted in favor of a resolution calling for a coalition between the NPP and the CDC.
One hundred and ninety-eight out of 210 delegates overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution to amend the constitution to help the party ride on the popularity of the CDC.
“Today, I will be agreeing with the National Executive Committee that the party goes into an alliance; be not deceived, if we do not join other political parties, the Unity Party will remain in power for another six years.”
“We have to ensure that the 12 years of suffering come to an end,” the party’s leader, Senator Jewel Howard Taylor said.
Describing the proposed coalition as “natural alliance”, Sen. Taylor said the coalition with the CDC gave the NPP more seats in the Legislature in 2011.
“So they are our natural partner.”In fact, CDC was created out of the NPP and so the alliance with the CDC is a natural alliance.”
“So, I will be adding my voice to the national executive committee that we form this alliance.”
“There are other people who so much want to be part of this alliance. People like the ALP, ANC, LPDP and others.”
”’We hope that when NPP takes the first stand with the process, we would invite others to come on board,” Sen. Taylor said.
Best Choice from Buutuo
Sen. Taylor said the NPP, which was originally formed and led by former President Charles G. Taylor, went through the struggles from Buutuo to Gbarnga before reaching Monrovia to liberate the people of Liberia.
“I stand as a testimony and each of you know that [NPP] was not the wrong choice.”
“A bag of rice was US$20. Today, most people cannot afford to buy a hundred pound bag of rice,” Senator Taylor lamented.
Senator Taylor, also a former wife of former President Taylor, said it was under Charles Taylor that the Ministry of Gender and Development, the Central Bank Act, Mineral Law of Liberia and the creation of both River Gee and Gbarpolu Counties were formed.
Sleeping Giant Reawakens
For his part Ambassador Nathaniel Barnes, a stalwart of the NPP described it as a sleeping giant which has been reawakened to facw a challenge of transforming the country.
“I am convinced with every fiber of my being that the NPP, as a sleeping giant, is awakening to face this challenge. “
“For too long we have been bombarded by mediocrity, greed, selfishness, indifference, corruption, impunity and ineptness.
Barnes reiterated that ousting the Unity Party would take the collaborative effort of the CDC, NPP and other political parties.
CDC Ready for Merger
In April of this year, CDC’s leader George Weah accepted a petition from members of his party to contest the presidency for the second time. However, he said the party was opened for merger with other parties who share the dreams and aspirations of the CDC.
“Having heard the cry of our people and seen their plight, I George Manneh Weah on this 28th day of April 2016, on the grounds of the mighty Congress for Democratic Change, do hereby accept your numerous calls and declare before you my countrymen and the Almighty God that I shall contest the presidency of our beloved country in 2017 national elections.
“My fellow Liberian our gathering here today is about the future of our country and our people,” he told supporters.
“Over the past 10 years we have seen that the majority of our people continue to live in abject poverty, even though billions of United States Dollars have been put to the disposal of this government.”
“Education remains a mess, health delivery system a disaster, agriculture a wasteland, while electricity and pipe-borne water remains elusive.
“I have accepted these petitions because I have a vision for Liberia.
“I will rebuild Liberia broken health system.
“The CDC vision is a vision of hope. And like you I strongly believe in that vision of hope.”
“The political struggle we began in 2005 has also produced many positive results. Today, because of the CDC the poor and the marginalized are no longer taken for granted in Liberian politics.”
Other Parties Clinging on CDC
FrontPageAfrica has received information from sources close to George Weah that the CDC and the Alternative National Congress (ANC) were holding meetings for a possible merger.”
”Sources hinted FrontPageAfrica that the two sides met first met in Gbarnga, Bong County where the CDC was represented by Weah and some CDC lawmakers while the ANC was represented by its standard bearer, Alexander Cummings.
It is also widely believed in some circles that the Liberty Party has been contemplating on joining forces with the CDC while the ruling Unity Party, now being led by Vice President Joseph Boakai, is still jittery about whom to collaborate with.
Once A Main Contender
The CDC had been a major contender to the Unity Party in the last two presidential elections. In 2005, the party led by Weah came first during the first round but failed to obtain the constitutional requirement of 50 +1 votes.
The party, however, trailed in the second round when other parties in the race threw their support behind President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Unity Party.
In 2011, Weah stepped in the back seat, giving chance to Winston Tubman who took the party to polls but called on his partisans not to vote in the run-off when the Unity Party narrowly won the first round.
Tubman then called on his partisans to boycott the round-off after he felt there were some electoral malpractices on the part of the National Elections Commission (NEC).