Ganta, Nimba County – It was by no means a duplication of the old wild-wild west or a trip down a patchy road of political redemption; but in making his case for the Liberian presidency at the weekend, Charles Walker Brumskine, while accepting his party’s nomination, channeled a road less traveled for the introvert politician many of his critics perceive him to be.
Report by Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
Trumpeting a platform based on four strategic principles —Reconciliation, Reform, Recovery, and Rebuilding, Charles Brumskine and Harrison Karnwea make their case for state power at Convention in vote-rich county.
But Will the Code of Conduct Spoil Their Plans?
Brumskine’s Liberty Party not only chose Nimba as the scene of its convention ahead of this year’s presidential and legislative elections but came out showcasing one of the county’s prominent sons, Harrison Karnwea as his running mate.
Getting Over the ’05 ‘Fluke’
In taking his bold stand in the county many see as a no-go zone for anyone other than Prince Yormie Johnson, Brumskine and the Liberty Party appear to be sending a clear message that its 2011 showing was a fluke in a bad election year.
In 2003, fresh on the heels of his fallout with former President Charles Ghankay Taylor, Brumskine returned to Liberia and made his plan to seek the presidency.
He formed the Liberty Party, pledging to bring reconciliation to the country following its political turmoil, and improve the economy and infrastructure.
It was not a winning turn for the candidate who received an impressive 14% of the vote, 6% less than the second-place candidate, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and therefore he was not able to participate in the runoff.
Despite the impressive numbers, Brumskine acknowledged in 50-50 radio interview last week that his candidacy was eclipsed by both Sirleaf and Weah, two higher profile icons that dominated the slate of rejuvenated post-war political play.
Weah, a former international football start whose prowess in his days was compared to none of his rivals, but is still regarded as political novice. Sirleaf, came with a reputation as a Harvard-trained banker who rose to fame standing up to former dictators Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor.
Many of Brumskine’s critics believe his failure to significantly influenced the run-off by sitting on the fence and failing to endorsed either candidate – Weah or Sirleaf, was a painful political mistake he is still paying for today.
His relationship with Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change, formerly Congress for Democratic Change has always been rocky amid mistrusts and social media attacks from members of both parties now the order of the day.
Nevertheless, Brumskine says his relationship with Weah is solid and sees no ill toward the football legend.
Six years after his impressive ’05 elections showing, Brumskine participated in an election he mostly like would want to forget, in 2011.
Despite picking a popular political force from another vote-rich county, Bong, in Franklin Obed Siakor as his running-mate, Brumskine’s Liberty Party only managed a dismal single digit 5.5 percent, finishing a distant fourth behind Sirleaf (Unity Party), 90.7 percent; Winston Tubman (CDC), 9.3 percent and Prince Y. Johnson (NUDP), 11.3 percent.
But that was 2011.
In fact, many of Brumskine’s detractor’s doubt he will be able to make up for lost grounds – from 5.5 percent to a winning double digit percentage in this election year.
This time around, Brumskine’s flirtation with Nimba is as bold as they could come, particularly for a county with a lot at stake and much riding on the strategic nature of its political correctness.
As of the 2008 Census, the county had a population of 462,026, making it the second most populous county in Liberia.
Flirting in PYJ’s Stronghold
It is for this reason that many politicians, not just Brumskine have been willing to ignore the political trappings and war atrocities of Prince Johnson in going all out to embed a strange but rather unstable bedfellow.
Johnson even joked last week in the chambers of the Liberian senate that he is the most beautiful chick (woman) in the body politics of Liberia with everybody wanting his support and collaboration.
“I am the finest chick in Liberian politic,” he told peers within earshot of legislative reporters.
The Senator went on to slam critics who have frowned at his recent interaction with Vice President Joseph Boakai and pledge of support, coming shortly after his ill-fated flirtation with businessman Benoni Urey, where it is alleged some funds changed hands.
“They fear that I will join Boakai and [there’s] nothing wrong with joining Boakai. That’s my old man. we will defeat those people who want to suppress this old man,” Senator Johnson asserted.
It is here that Brumskine hopes to make some inroads by digging into the Senator’s stronghold and hoping to make up for lost grounds. A strong showing here or even an upset win could give the Liberty Party candidate who is projected to win his stronghold, Grand Bassa a good shot at winning the presidency which has eluded him for years.
This is why Brumskine was grateful in paying homage, not just to Karnwea but other favorite Nimba figures, Edith Gongloe Weh and Larry Yanquoi.
“I would be remiss should I fail to mention another great leader of Nimba County, Madam Edith Gonglo-Weh, although not physically present today, I know she is with us in spirit.”
“I would like to thank Edith for leading the way in assisting us to re-open the doors to Nimba County, the birthplace of Liberty Party, where we held our first National Convention in 2005; and, the County that gave us our first National Chairman, the Honorable Larry Yanquoi.”
Gongloe received an impressive 16.6 percent of the votes in the 2014 Senatorial elections, putting up a spirted fight against Johnson. Liberty Party will be hoping that a combination of Karnwea, Gongloe and Yanqui is sufficient to put them over the top in this election circle.
If Gongloe can even help LP equal the performance of former Presidential candidate, Dr. Joseph Korto, it would go a long way in digging into Senator Johnson’s base.
Dr. Korto, running as the LERP (Liberian Equal Rights Party) presidential candidate in 2005, placed seventh out of 22 candidates, receiving 3.3% of the vote nationally with the highest vote total in Nimba County, his home base.
Korto, who went on to endorse Sirleaf in the second round and was rewarded with a post as Minister of Education, attained 30,054 votes for 21.9 percent of the votes in Nimba. But that was without Senator Johnson running on the presidency ballot.
The Path of the 4 Rs
Political expectations aside, Brumskine for now appears to be clinging on a message of hope that Liberians will embrace his four R’s path to healing. “Liberia will never go forward without an appreciation of what each ethnic group, religion, or political group contributes to our common heritage,” he told a crowd of supporters in Ganta Saturday.
“Under a Liberty Party government, we will strive to highlight our cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity and educate our nation of our heritage. Within the first six months of a Brumskine/Karnwea Administration, we will appoint teams of experts from every ethnic group of our country to document the history of each, revealing the contribution of each ethnic group to the founding and the growth of our country.”
It is a message many in the party hope will resonate in an election year being dominated by discussions surrounding Country and Congau debate with some political players insisting on an indigenous president winning this year’s elections.
“Together, we will talk about Reconciliation—healing the wounds of a country that is deeply divided; traumatized by decades of war and civil strife, and the rebirth of demagoguery, whose only platform is the tantalizing simplicity of divide to rule, and ultimately destroy our country. We will reconcile Liberians to ensure domestic peace.”
This is why Brumskine spoke about generating discussion around the country’s symbols and seal.
“While we do not believe that national symbols such as the national seal, the flag, the pledge of allegiance, and the national anthem should be changed simply for the sake of change; we do believe that the meaning of those symbols need to be made relevant to Liberia today.”
” Therefore, a national conversation on those symbols will be initiated with a goal of making them more inclusive and relevant to our future as one nation indivisible.”
In pushing his agenda of healing, Brumskine also trumpeted his party as the political trail blazer of Liberia’s new political dispensation, which began with my return from exile in 2003.
“Ours is a party of ideas! We seek to lead and govern our country not as an entitlement, not because we desire to exclude others based on religion or ethnicity; but because we have a vision, we have the plans to translate the vision into action, and we possess the political will to transform our country for the better, for all Liberians.”
Governance Reform Pledge
Brumskine says his administration, if elected, will reform government to ensure justice and the rule of law; the renewal of a country in which the fundamental rights of all are respected, and each is accorded equal protection under the law.
“We will reform our education and our healthcare delivery system. We will reform our governance system so the city mayors and chiefs will once again be elected by the people whom they should serve.”
For Brumskie, recovery is about national pride, those values that made Liberia one people.
“Recovery is about the soul of a nation, long made hallowed by the seeming excesses of those who ruled it in the past and the cunning pretenses of some who now seek national offices.”
“We believe that Liberia will wake up to the true meaning of what it was meant to be; a dream that has yet to be realized, because other administrations have been unable to transform a nation of powerful men and women into a nation “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
The Liberty Party standard bearer also spoke about rebuilding infrastructure; and restructuring the economy to open more opportunities for jobs, self-employment, and for producing wealth.
“We will move away from the Tubman economic policy, the core of which is the dependency on the export of extractive resources, rubber, and oil palm. We will diversify the economy, with emphasis on the agriculture sector; we will strive to develop Liberian entrepreneur, and add value to our raw materials.”
Brumskine went to great lengths to speak about his paternal heritage, perhaps in a silent jab at those questioning his indigenous background.
“About 20 years ago, I left the life of a successful corporate and transactional lawyer to live the creed of my father, the late poor man lawyer of Grand Bassa County, who is still revered and respected today, as I realize that “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
Brumskine says he entered a life of public service during a period when most chose to shy away, preferring the personal comfort of opposition in exile to the heavy-lifting of directly confronting tyranny in government.
“Even when I felt that my life was threatened, I chose a short path to return home, leaving in exile the timid opposition, others who would not dare leave the comfort of a foreign land, meeting upon my return many who had given up on a better Liberia, who had lost hope and had settled for only surviving day by day. I risked the ultimate confrontation with tyranny, while thinking of the writing of an unknown author, which says:
“I’m tired of sailing my little boat, far inside the harbor bar. I want to go out where the big ships float, out on the deep where the great ones are. And should my frail craft prove too slight for waves that sweep those billows o’er, I’d rather go down in the stirring fight than drowse to death at the sheltered shore.”
Brumskine says he is counting on the support of Liberians as he embarks on his quest to becoming the next President of the Republic of Liberia. “I believe that because I know that the salient issues of the ensuing elections are trust and integrity.
“Of all the Presidential candidates, which one can Liberia truly trust—who was he that stood up for Liberia when you needed an alternative voice in 2003; which of us has the integrity to lead our country; which of us has served in the Liberian government at such high level as that of President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, and left with his character intact and free of scandal?”
Trumpeting a Corruption-free Record
Taking a pointed jab at his critics, he said: “Of all that the enemies of change may say about me, fortunately, they cannot say that I do not possess the requisite education; they will not say that I do not have the relevant public service experience; and, they would be hard pressed to say that I am not a man of integrity”
“. I have not been mentioned in any public scandal, government audit, or corruption report. I have never enriched myself from the public treasury, while the disadvantaged and vulnerable, young people and old folks remained unattended by their government.”
Taking a trip down memory lane, Brumskine also reminded his supporters of his opposition to Taylor.
“During my sojourn as a Senator and Leader of the Liberian Senate, I refused to be known as a blind follower of the leader of the day. I instead chose to represent the interest of the people, rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasure of accumulating wealth. “
“As a result, I was constrained to leave the Liberian Senate. I, therefore, stand before you today as a public servant deeply rooted in integrity and a system of values, which I bring to governance.”
While expressing his gratitude for his nomination, Cllr. Brumskine said he was humbled and challenged by the task of nation-building that lies ahead.
“Our task today is by far greater, and the challenges more daunting, than it was for the founding fathers.”
“The challenges of twenty first century Liberia is neither to create a home for a certain group of people, nor to demarcate territorial boundaries, but to develop all groups of Liberians into a community of people, to build a nation we can all call home—a place where the rights of every individual are protected, and responsibilities of all are clearly defined.”
It May All Comes Down to the Code of Conduct
For the immediate future, much of Brumskine’s assertions depend on the fate of Karnwea and whether the prominent Nimba figure will survive the controversy surrounding the Code of Conduct.
A Supreme Court ruling in March concluded that the Code of Conduct, signed into law by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2014, is legal and binding on the republic for all its intents and purposes.
The Act, which was submitted by the Executive to the National Legislature in 2009, states that all officials appointed by the President shall not engage in political activities, canvass or contest for elected offices, use government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political activities, among others.
The Act also stipulates that: “Wherein, any official of government who desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post at least two years prior to the date of such public elections; b) Any other official appointed by the President who holds a tenured position and desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post three years prior to the date of such public elections.
Ruling on a petition for Declaratory Judgment filed by legal counsel of Bong County Superintendent Selena Polson-Mappy, the high court declined to confirm her plea that the code of conduct is unconstitutional, unmeritorious both in fact and in law.
Accordingly, section 5.2 also states,
“Wherein, any person in the category stated in section 5.1 herein above, desires to canvass or contest for an elective public position, the following shall apply; a) Any Minister, Deputy Minister, Director-General, Managing Director and Superintendent appointed by the President pursuant to article 56 (a) of the Constitution and a Managing Director appointed by a Board of Directors, who desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post at least two (2) years prior to the date of such public elections; b) Any other official appointed by the President who holds a tenured position and desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post three (3) years prior to the date of such public elections.”
Karnwea, most recently worked as the Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority(FDA) and previously as Minister of Internal Affairs. He resigned from the former in March and declared his membership for the Liberty Party a few days later. He is also said to have been high on the list of VP candidates for Vice President Joseph Boakai.
The high court, in its ruling suggest dismissals and fines for those found to be in breach of the act but many Liberty Party detractors say, Karnwea should not be allowed on the ticket.
For the foreseeable future, Karnwea and Liberty Party’s fate lies in how the debate over the Code of Conduct unravels in the days leading to elections or at least the start of campaigning next month.
Recently, the Senate suggested that complaints connected to sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the National Code of Conduct should not be the determination of the Ombudsman, rather the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the courts.
The recommendation was put forth by the Chairman on the Ombudsman Committee, Senator Morris Saytumah, one of several Senators who recently endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Joseph Boakai.
With barely 120 days remaining to elections and less than among to the start of the political campaign season, Brumskine and the Liberty Party are pinning their political future on a vote-rich county with a lot of implications.
It is a gamble party insiders say, may be worth taking – even it means not winning, but giving a popular former warlord a good fight in his stronghold as Brumskine embarks on what many say could be his last attempt at winning the presidency.