Opposition leaders meet over 2017

While Liberians generally at home and abroad celebrated their country’s 169th Independence Day last Tuesday, July 26, a group of opposition leaders, including Congress for Democratic or CDC leader Senator George Mannah Weah and Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine of the Liberty Party were locked in a meeting on a possible merger ahead of the October 10, 2017 Presidential and Representatives Elections.

The impromptu meeting reportedly called by CDC leader Weah, brought together the political leader of the All Liberian Party, businessman Benoni Urey, Cllr. Charles Brumskine, ex-standard bearer of the Liberia Destiny Party, Ambassador Nathaniel Milton Barnes, and the chairman emeritus of the former ruling National Patriotic Party, Chief Cyril Allen.

Speaking to The NewDawn over the weekend via mobile phone, CDC national chairman Nathaniel McGill said, the meeting was intended for members of the opposition bloc to find a way forward ensuring the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections.

The meeting, which was held at a local resort owned by the Montserrado County Senator Weah along the Roberts International Airport highway owned by the Montserrado County Senator focus on the need for the opposition bloc to unite in order to democratically, defeat the governing Unity Party at the polls.

The governing UP is seeking a third term at the ballot box next year with Vice President Joseph Boakai as its standard bearer. Chairman McGill said the opposition in the meeting acknowledge that everyone has the ability and qualification to lead, but one at a time, suggesting that such meeting will continue until some point are arrived at.

According to him, the consultation was first of its kind, and the participants strongly believe the best option will be taken to the Liberian people. Senator Weah did not say who will head the ticket, but clarified that every politician in attendance expressed the desire to collaborate.

The CDC had earlier said despite the interest to cooperate or collaborate, it will not sacrifice its code values and shared vision at the altar, and that they are very careful not to abuse this confidence because it is the philosophy of their very survival over the years.

Weah said if the CDC has to do it alone, they can and will, but they rather not, because political cooperation and collaboration will strengthen the national vision and build consensus along national policy issues.

“To achieve this policy objective, the CDC will and must remain at the helm so our mass followers are not betrayed,” said and noted, it is imperative that a CDC- led government comes to power in 2017.

Both Weah and Cllr. Brumskine had been in merger talks before, specifically in 2011, but those discussions broke down, and their respective parties went their way separately.

The CDC recently reacted harshly to a newspaper publication about a collaboration between Weah and Brumskine, with Chairman Mcgill maintaining that it is unthinkable that Weah would go as a vice running mate to any candidate.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor -Editing by Jonathan Browne