Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – Everyone following politics in Grand Bassa County could easily predict Gbehzongar Findley’s move ahead of 2017 elections, which is opposing his longtime political adversary, Charles Walker Brumskine.

Report by Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, alpha.senkpeni@frontpageafricaonline.com

 “I think that their principles, their idea are something that I said during 2014 elections – during my campaign.”

“My views were clear on this matter…, perhaps they took some excerpts from that. I can say to you with confidence that they are not lying… in fact I think I will start supporting them.” Former Senator of Grand Bassa County, Gbehzhongar Milton Findley

Brumskin fielded Senator Jonathan Kaipay in 2014 to oust Findley, and that has ever since worsened the rivalry between the pair.

And now Findley is aiming to thwart the presidential bid of Liberty Party and its political leader.

In fact, the former Senate Pro Temp has announced his support for Vice President Boakai and is looking to garner support from across Grand Bassa County for the VP ahead of 2017.

His ploy against Brumskin is pay-back, but could be suicidal if it fails and the Liberty Party ascends to the top seat. 

Several of Findley Buchanan-based supporters have embarked on a campaign dubbed United Bassa Citizens Against Brumskine Presidency.

As predicted by many observers, Findley was the prime architect of the movement against the candidature of Cllr. Brumskin, but Findley denied sponsoring the group.

Late last week, he told a Monrovia-based radio station that although he did not organize the group, he supported their ideology.

“I think that their principles, their idea are something that I said during 2014 elections – during my campaign.

“My views were clear on this matter…, perhaps they took some excerpts from that,” said Findley during a recent interview with Prime FM.

“I can say to you with confidence that they are not lying…, in fact I think I will start supporting them.”  

He denied knowing the groups’ objective but said he was now motivated to support their cause since he has been repeatedly accused of supporting them.

The former Bassa lawmaker’s move is an uphill-task, and he will have to execute an impeccable political strategy to put LP out of balance in a county that has consistently voted for the party since 2005.

The National Elections Commission’s records show that Liberty Party has won the highest votes in the last two presidential elections, and more over the party now has the most lawmakers at the national legislature.

In 2005, Brumskine swept 38,498 votes (58.0%) ahead of George Weah and President Sirleaf, who came third in the county, after accumulating 4,032 (6.1%) and Weah earned 11,534 (17.4%).

In 2011, President Sirleaf appointed Findley as her lead campaigner in Grand Bassa and despite the huge finance thrown into the campaign as UP sought a second term, Liberty Party and Brumskine again won the most votes in the county with 28,039(37.6%), while Sirleaf won 24,798 (33.2%). 

The numbers have always favored Brumskine in Grand Bassa County, and pundits say it’s improbably to edge the party in the county. LP has its grip on the running of the county due to its numerical advantage in the county legislative caucus, something that would influence the 2017 electorates in the county.

Findley’s renewed his support for VP Boakai and is aiming to be a torn in the side of Brumskine come 2017. He has not held back his punches in the last couple of months evident by his sarcasm against Brumskine.

“I will not have the opportunity again, Mr. Standard bearer (referring to Amb. Boakai) and I want the journalists to please carry it – I want to ask Cllr. Brumskine to please support our standard bearer,” he shouted to a thunderous crowd.

Like Findley, the movement opposing the election of Brumskine appears dedicated to their cause. They have launched stinging attacks at LP political leader on social media.

“Let’s me say this to all sympathizers, supporters of this visionless man call Brumskine he likes it or not he will not smell the seat,Pls tell me what Brumskine has done in Grand Bassa County!

Oh you don’t know that Brumskine is depending on his parents property in Bassa he’s has nothing to boast off go and check it out for [yourself] absolutely nothing,” posted Othello Garpue on Facebook.

Added Emmanuel Wragboe, the movement leader: “The United Bassa Citizens Against Brumskine Presidency wants to say many thanks to the people of Bassa for understanding our messages against Brumskine.” 

The group claims Brumskine popularity is declining based on their own survey done on community radio stations in Buchanan. On the other hand, supporters on Brumskine have also taken to the group’s Facebook page in his defense.

 “This is the time for the youth of Bassa to [make] up their minds to give Bassa the chance for the presidency.

“Whether you like Cllr. Brumskine or not let us all put hand together and support Cllr. Brumskine for this coming 2017 election and give him the chance to give Liberia what she deserves back,” writes Alessandro G. Flangiah.

As the debate heightens in Grand Bassa and the feud between two prominent politicians deepens, observers say political play would become tenser in the coming months.

Findley, who has been pondering about contesting for an elected seat or reentering active national politics, called on his supporters to follow him to the Unity Party and support VP Boakai.

 “Now we say we got a home to go to and that home is the Unity Party,” he told his supporters, promising to give his all for the election of VP Boakai.

“Mr. Standard Bearer we want to let you know that when you leave this hall today, Gbehzongar Findley supporters will become Unity Party supporters.”

Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – Ever since Gbehzongar Milton Findley lost the special senatorial election in 2014, his animosity for Liberty Party and its political leader, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, hit new heights.

Report by Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, alpha.senkpeni@frontpageafricaonline.com

The former President Pro Temp of the Liberian Senate claimed it was not the LP who plotted against and thwarted his reelection but rather the people of the county opted for a new person to replace him.

Proceedings to the crucial 2014 election showed the enormous political tension Findley endured from LP, evident by his poor showing at the polls, and it was a Liberty Party candidate in Jonathan L. Kaipay that went on to claim victory – defeating an incumbent favored by Unity Party and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

It’s now two years after Findley’s historic defeat, and all hands are on deck for the ensuing 2017 general elections which political observers say can only be won due to the collaboration of politicians or merger of political institutions.

Findley, who has acclaimed admiration mainly in Buchanan, is aiming to rekindle his political prominence while his political foe, Cllr. Brumskine and his party, are determined to maintain consistency by winning more votes for the third time in successive presidential elections in the county.  

And Findley is again entering the political fray, opting to lure support for UP’s Ambassador Joseph Boakai in Grand Bassa County, a county disputably regarded as the stronghold of LP’s Brumskine who is again looking to rely on votes from the Bassa speaking counties of Rivercess, Grand Bassa and Margibi.

Already, Liberty Party has showcased its popularity during the official opening of the party’s office in the Port City of Buchanan when thousands of supporters paraded the streets flaunting their support for an opposition party considers as a ‘traditional political institution’ in Grand Bassa.

But Findley and his band of loyalists could be a nemesis for LP and their quest to claim the highest votes in Grand Bassa. When he introduced Vice President Boakai at an event marking the government’s reactivation of pipe bond water service in Buchanan, he throw a jibe at the LP political leader asking him to support the candidacy of Boakai.

“I will not have the opportunity again, Mr. Standard bearer (referring to Amb. Boakai) and I want the journalists to please carry it – I want to ask Cllr. Brumskine to please support our standard bearer,” he shouted to a thunderous crowd.

For Brumskine’s supporters, the comment is sarcastic but for Findley’s it’s a way of reigniting the long existing political rivalry with the Liberty Party main man ahead of 2017. The conflict has been visible between Findley and the Liberty Party with many LP lawmakers in the county showing solidarity for their political leader.

In 2013, Representative Jeh Byron Browne of Electoral District Four emphasized that Findley was disingenuous to ignore the contributions Brumskine made for his election back in 2005.

On the other, the former Senator Pro-Temp was labeled a ‘handbag-boy’ for President Sirleaf, by Cllr. Brumskine in 2004 when he then called on people of Grand Bassa to rally their votes for a Liberty Party Candidate.

Now, Findley supporters have launched a campaign against Brumskine terming his statement that ‘it’s time for a Bassa man to become president of Liberia’ as divisive.

They have slammed the astute Liberian lawyer describing him insensitive to the plight of employees who were redundant by steel giant, Arcelor Mittal Liberia in Grand Bassa County. Cllr. Brumskine law firm has for years now defended the legal interest of the steel company which uses the Port of Buchanan to ship tons of iron ore from the country.

As Mr. Findley reignites the political rivalry with Brumskine, sources claim the former is looking to gain prominence in the ranks of the ruling establishment while others are speculating in Buchanan that the former senator is in line to run as vice standard bearer for Unity Party in 2017. Political pundits have criticized the possibility of any such political collaboration.

While, Findley may be opting for his name adjacent Boakai’s on the ballot paper next year, Cllr. Brumskine, meanwhile, has recently refuted claims when he spoke to the Voice of America (VOA) that he’s not being courted by the Vice President as a running mate.

“There’s no way that as an opposition party we will be associated with the ruling party in the 2017 elections. It is simply rumors, and as has been in the past, the tactics of the UP trying to distract the voters from the real issues,” he told VOA’s James Butty.

“Let me make it unequivocally clear, we’re not associated with the ruling party. We’re not going to run on the same ticket. We look forward to changing the leadership from the ruling party to an opposition party, hopefully led by the Liberty Party.”

However, Findley, who has been pondering about contesting for an elected seat or reentering active national politics, recently told his supporters that he will support UP in the election.

“Now we say we got a home to go to and that home is the Unity Party,” he told his supporters, promising to give his all for the election of VP Boakai. “Mr. Standard Bearer we want to let you know that when you leave this hall today, Gbehzongar Findley supporters will become Unity Party supporters.”

In 2011, Mr. Findley heavy campaign for the reelection of President Sirleaf and was later awarded a leadership role at the senate – making him one of the most powerful politicians in the country.

Despite the incumbency factor, and rigorous campaigning in the county by UP headed by Findley himself, Liberty Party was successful in repeating its 2005sucess by winning 28, 039 (37.6%) while UP 24,798 (33.2%).

But LP critics say the party’s experienced a plunge in form reconsidering their 2005 election performance in Grand Bassa when they claimed 38,498 (58.0%); Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) won 11,534 (17%) and Unity Party managed just 4,032 (6.1%) of the total votes counted. 

Although there are several political parties aiming to solidify their popularity in Grand Bassa County, geopolitics and the existing political variables favor Liberty Party and Unity Party as frontrunners ahead of campaigning in the county and with Mr. Findley and Cllr. Brumskine leading the charge for both parties the political tension will obviously intensified ahead of 2017.