MONROVIA: As a way of rebranding itself and get over the hour of reckoning after the shock defeat from the just concluded general elections, President George Manneh Weah has urged members of the Coalition for Democratic Change(CDC) to embrace the “Theory of Succession”, where leaders emerge through the ranks just as he made reference to the ensuing leadership election in the national legislature where it appears that some CDC lawmakers will be squaring up against each other for the various positions up for contention.
President Weah gave the admonition on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at his Forkay Klon Jlaleh Family Fellowship when he addressed members and supporters of the CDC in what has been described as a post-mortem analysis of the just concluded general elections in which he used medium to first console them and then suggested a pathway through which the party can make a comeback including burying their differences and working together for the greater good of the party.
The president told them that why it was a difficult thing to accept losing power after just six years, the best option available to them was to accept the reality that they lost the race due to their own making because “we were working and fighting against ourselves and refusing for the common rules in decision making to take precedence in what we were doing”.
He said the partisans and supporters hold the key to when next they will return to power but could be possible based on how the party handles its defeat and exert seriousness in moving forward. President Weah identified the ensuing leadership election at the National legislature to begin the process of comeback as it would give the party the confidence to begin the rebuilding process.
He said the “Theory of Succession” could be a lead way if followed properly which will require that some of those who want to leapfrog the process will scale down their ambition and give chance to those in the prime position to vie for those leadership positions which include the Speakership, the Deputy Speaker and the President Protempore of the Senate.
President Weah lamented that despite several entreaties made to some of those lawmakers to see reasons to respect the theory, there was little being achieved as “we continue to do the same thing even in these critical times”, thus making it possible for the party to clinch the much needed victory that will stimulate the party.
“We are going to another election and the same scenario is playing out in this space. We are going for an election for the speaker, deputy speaker and the president pro temp but people are not willing to respect the theory of succession: Theory of succession tells you this is your time; I am behind you; if your time finishes, I will succeed you.”
“But everybody wants to be there at the same time anyhow, no matter what,” he continued.
The President said what was pulsating and frustrating in the whole scenario was that some of those who are being prevailed upon to let go their ambition and allow those who could deliver victory for the party are the very people who were brought out of obscurity by the party to places of prominent but are now refusing to listen because “they feel they have arrived”.
“It is a defeat in the offing again. I will say this that it is sad not to recognize people that helped you; someone that raised you; people that raised you when you were in the shackles, when you were in the ghettos; it is a danger if they advise you and you refuse.”
“If those people who became elevated by us cannot listen to us again, well we will say God will be the judge,” the President said.
The President’s confidence in the CDC clinching the principal positions, especially the Speakership, is anchored on the fact that the party has a commanding lead among all the political parties in the country in terms of elected members of the House of Representatives as per the results of the just concluded general elections. Out of 73 members, the party has 25 while the main opposition Unity Party has 10.
It was reported last week that Deputy Speaker Fonati J. Koffa, who seems to be the clear choice of the party, met with old and incoming members of the House of Representatives numbering about 40 persons and they assured him of their unflinching support in his bid to become the next Speaker.
CDC is more concerned about the Speakership than either the President Pro Tempore or the Deputy Speaker according to sources based on how the campaign and involvement of the party have been pursuing the project.
Political watchers are of the opinion that the CDC stands to get votes from most of those who were elected as independent candidates as most of them have strong links with the CDC just as the other parties such as the Collaborating Political Parties(CPP) that endorsed the CDC during the second round may likely go the CDC way compared to UP.
Political pundits are of the opinion that just as the election of Mr. Weah as a Senator for Montserrado County in 2014 fired up the strong urge for taking state power in 2017, the CDC would want to use the election of some of their lawmakers to key legislative positions, such as the speakership to energize its support and encourage them to push for the presidency in 2029.
Whatever is the case, the further fragmentation within the CDC, according to pundits may rob them and it may be a major setback to make a rebound to state power.
Comments are closed.