As four opposition political parties sign a collaborating document today, Thursday, 21 February the vice chairman of the governing council of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Chief Cyril Allen, describes the parties involved as “insignificant” to the electoral process of Liberia.
He says leaders of those parties, who are in the forefront of the so-called cementing collaboration, have no record politically, claiming that some have failed in their respective fields of study, and are instead, running to politics for survival.
Parties gearing for collaboration include, the All Liberian Party (ALP) of businessman-turned politician Benoni Urey, Alternative National Congress (ANC) of former corporate executive Alexander Cummings, Liberty Party (LP) of Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, and the former ruling Unity Party headed by former Vice President Joseph Boakai.
The pending marriage is in preparation for the 2020 Special Senatorial Election.
Speaking to the NewDawn on Monday, February 19, in Juazon, along the Roberts International Airport highway, Chief Allen explains, “Some of the political leaders of the opposition political parties have failed to renovate their parents’ house in Grand Bassa County; some have failed in law field; some, who claim to having international contacts, cannot create jobs for partisans by inviting investors here, but [the] only option in their heads is politics without any significant achievements in the field of national leadership.”
All four parties participated in the 2017 Presidential and Representative Elections, fielding separate presidential candidates, but they lost to the now governing CDC of President George Manneh Weah, including the former ruling UP.
In his stinking attack, Chief Allen further notes that some of the political parties bragging about collaboration do not have offices in the counties, as an indication of their existence outside the capital, suggesting that the opposition community should now start to engage communities positively and stop ranting insults on national leaders.
According to him, raining insults is unacceptable in an academic, intellectual and civilized world.
Commenting on a recent leaked audio recording that has gone viral on social media in which suspended Bong County Superintendent Esther Walker, is heard discussing traditional leaders crowning Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor with the highest traditional title Dahkpannah, he says traditionally, a woman is not qualified for such title because it means ‘Oldman.’
Chief Allen, who is chairman emeritus of jailed former President Charles Ghankay Taylor’s National Patriotic Party now headed by Madam Taylor, stresses that tradition-related issues should never be discussed on the national scene. He calls on Liberians not to politicize the issue as it will be handled by traditional leaders.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
According to him, Dahkpannah may be conferred on someone, who forms part of four or more traditional society practices and must be a male, instead.
The awarding of the title has caused serious stir in the current administration, leading to recent dismissal of a prominent traditional chief in Bong County.
Bad blood is gradually developing between President Weah and Vice President Taylor with confidants of Mr. Weah suspecting Mrs Taylor has a secret political ambition.
Critics wonder how could President Weah, who recently opened a family church named in memory of his late mother and preached the watch night sermon on December 31, 2018 would at the same time, crave for traditional title contrary to teachings of the Holy Bible.
However, Chief Allen clarifies that President George Manneh Weah is not a member of any traditional society practice, so he may only become Dahkpannah if he asked for it, and traditional leaders here deem it necessary, they may award him purely on ceremonial basis.
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor –Editing by Jonathan Browne
