Monrovia – In the backdrop of the 1963 meeting which brought together the leaders of Ivory Coast, Guinea and Liberia, chaired by late President William V.S. Tubman, opposition political parties in Liberia are poised to channel their inner workings for a rare tete-a-tete this weekend in the historic city of Sanniquellie Nimba County, the setting that gave birth to the formation of the Organization of the African union (OAU).
The meeting is being described by many as a big political collaboration gathering called by Senator Prince Y. Johnson.
Senator Johnson, who played a kingmaker role in the 2011 Presidential elections, is seen as a major player and has been heavily coveted for the 2017 political fixture.
The talks of political collaboration among opposition political parties have heightened in recent months, but have failed to yield any substantive outcome.
Mr. Wilfred Bangura National Secretary General of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), the political wing of Senator Prince Johnson says the anxiety is high among opposition political parties.
Bangura told FrontPageAfrica Thursday that the pending opposition collaboration meeting will focus on encouraging opposition political parties to refrain from post-election violence and discuss a possible collaboration among opposition political parties for the 2017 Presidential and General elections.
“We want a collaboration that will democratically oust the ruling establishment. We know we all have ambition, we all want to be President but the negotiations will be based on give and take. We chose Nimba because Nimba can produce collaboration that is everlasting.”
Mr. Bangura confirmed that fifteen opposition political parties have agreed to be part of the meeting.
He averred that as the brain behind the meeting, the MDR is going to the process open minded with an agenda of open arms.
“The people want change, the opposition want change; they are all coming to the meeting with open arms, “he said.
Asked whether other political parties would trust Senator Johnson, who has a political history of inconsistencies, Mr. Bangura said Senator Johnson is a trust worthy man and is looking forward to debunking such insinuations that he is not trust worthy.
“If you refuse to keep your part of the bargain, don’t expect him to keep his side. If you are faithful, he will as well be. Prince Johnson has always been trustworthy,” he added.
CDC going to the Meeting
Nathaniel McGill, Chairman of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change of football legend George Weah confirmed that the CDC’s political leader will be in attendance.
He however said that the meeting is not first of its kind. He stated that there have been meetings held in the past weeks and expressed hope that the Nimba meeting will come up with what he described as ‘some kind of understanding’.
Said McGill: “The CDC, like we have always said, is opened to conversation. If you can recall at our convention in Nimba, we called for a collaboration meeting.
The CDC is going to listen and we are going to have a deal. All the people who are going to the meeting are people who are qualified to be President.
“The meeting we believe is not intended to demand people to give in but to discuss. It is clear that Senator Weah is a candidate for President but we are going to the meeting. I don’t think that meeting is where people are going to discuss who will be President but whether we are willing to work together.”
The CDC Chairman added that opposition political parties have not up to present discussed in principle what kind of relationship they want to build. McGill like Bangura dispelled rumors that the Nimba County Senator cannot be trusted.
LP will not accept a losing ticket
For his part Mr. Benjamin Sanvee, Chairman of the opposition Liberty Party said all options are on the table for discussion but said, the Liberty party will not accept a losing ticket as he expressed confidence and believability in Senator Johnson.
Mr. Sanvee told FrontPageAfrica that the meeting in Nimba County will lead to the formation of a united front. Obviously we are interested in leading like anyone else but all options are on the table. We will not accept a losing ticket,” Sanvee said.
A similar collaboration effort held in Gbarnga, Bong County earlier this year fell apart a day after over distrust as to who should and must head a coalition ticket.
