‘Leave Comfort Zones, Canvass For Dillon and Telia -Youth Activist Urges Opposition Leaders; Sees By-elections Very Crucial

Youth and Student Activist Martin K. N. Kollie saying all is not lost in the face of what he called Liberia’s cloudy scaring future, massive leadership bankruptcy and increasing hardship “under footballing President George M. Weah, sounded a wake up called to political leaders of the four collaborating opposition parties to leave their comfort zones and move across Montserrado to canvass for their candidates (Dillon and Telia).

In a letter address to the opposition political leaders a copy of which was sent to The ANALYST, Mr. Kollie said using White-collar approach by speaking to voters through audio and video recordings in order to woo voters may yield less impact.

Kollie who indicated that these by-elections are about Weah as President/CDC/NPP/LPDP and MDR on one hand versus UP, LP, ANC and ALP on another noted that these elections are not about Dillon and Telia, saying that Mr. Weah is taking these elections very personal as evident by his outburst against the opposition during his party’s campaign rally on June 22, 2019.

Like Weah as president of Liberia and political leader of CDC is frantically campaigning everywhere for candidate Paulita Wie and candidate Abu Kamara, Kollie hopes that Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party, Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party, Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress and Benoni Urey of the All-Liberian Party as prominent figures of the opposition bloc could go all out to campaign for Dillon and Telia.

“This could seal THE DEAL and send a resounding caveat to President Weah and CDC ahead of 2020 and 2023. Lest you forget that vote-rich Montserrado holds the key to the presidency, and any elected seat won in Montserrado is a plus or political boost,” he said.

“It was good to have endorsed Dillon and Telia, but it would be far better to roll up your sleeves and begin to canvass for them in trenches and hamlets. A lot of your supporters who are eligible voters would be far more inspired to vote for Dillon and Telia just by seeing you (Boakai, Brumskine, Cummings and Urey). This is why ‘physical presence’ counts more than audio and video recordings in a process such as this,” he admonished the opposition leaders.

    He pointed out that victory for Weah and his collaborating parties would be a Worst-case Scenario in that the opposition (UP, LP, ANC and ALP) would be rendered ‘impotent and weak’, Weah would have his way and even break more laws and amass more wealth in his domineering presidency; Weah’s claim of having exclusive ownership of Montserrado would have been justified/proven; it would have appeared like Weah is doing well and that such scenario could validate his performance rating and it would have placed the CDC in a better and stronger position for 2020 senatorial elections and 2023 presidential elections.

    To the contrary of this “worst scenario”, Kollie said victory for Dillon and Telia of the Opposition Collaborating Parties (UP, LP, ANC and ALP) will send a clarion message against misrule and bad governance (especially corruption, dictatorship, and increasing hardship) under ex-Soccer Star George Weah and CDC; render CDC as a ‘frail and unpopular’ ruling clique in vote-rich Montserrado after a period of just 16 months; Weah’s popularity in his ‘political stronghold’ would have been be deflated/diminished.

This, he maintained would have further disprove Weah’s wild claim of having absolute control/ownership of Montserrado; strengthened opposition parties and solidarity forces to unite even more ahead of 2020 and 2023 elections in order to SAVE Liberia and that the people’s hope and aspiration for a new future would have been reawakened through an alternative and opposition victory.

2019, he said, is a defining moment, a litmus test for 2020 and 2023. “With optimism for a new era of an egalitarian Republic and in pressing pursuit of a fresh beginning which offers genuine hope for millions of peasants who remain very vulnerable to peril and despair, I bring you patriotic greetings during such a difficult time as our nation is fast descending into an abyss of economic paralysis, creeping dictatorship and mass looting of public resources,” commenced a letter to the political leaders of the four opposition political parties.

Kollie however pointed out that there are still hope far beyond prevailing odds and added that the Republic can be rescued from this national tragedy or nightmare only if revered patriots begin to unite in words and deeds.

Kollie indicated that the looming rescue mission MUST begin with these 2019 senatorial and representative elections in Montserrado County which he considered ‘the hotbed or powerhouse of politics in Liberia, which he said makes it imperative for opposition to replicate Weah’s campaigning for the CDC candidates in the race.

“The future seems scaring and cloudy under footballing President George M. Weah as a result of massive leadership bankruptcy and increasing hardship. Vision is lacking – no concrete agenda – no realistic strategy – and an unquenched greed to amass illicit wealth are new normal under this ruling CDC clique. The ‘Change for Hope’ mantra is yet to offer any real hope firmly built upon those cherished democratic values of justice, equality, civil liberty and prosperity for all,” Kollie lamented.

Such failed slogan especially under a domineering presidency, Mr. Kollie maintained, is a reflection of a PROMISE BETRAYED. “Liberians are left alone in a state of obscurity and beggary after 16 months of participating in a historic democratic transition. The CHOICE made in 2017 has proven futile so far. Such barren decision has made them even more vulnerable, miserable and hopeless,” he asserted.

He said amidst these harsh realities virulently crushing Liberia and Liberians, there are two fundamental questions to ponder over, including whether Liberians do still have hope, and if yes, where can they turn for relief/reprieve?  He also wondered whether or not 2019 Montserrado Senatorial and Representative By-elections offer any real hope or change for Liberians, especially ahead of 2020 and 2023?

Mr. Kollie intoned that the Republic can be rescued from this national tragedy or nightmare only if revered patriots begin to unite in words and deeds, a rescue mission he said MUST begin with these 2019 senatorial and representative elections in Montserrado County – The hotbed or powerhouse of politics in Liberia. 2019 is a defining moment. In fact, it is a litmus test for 2020 and 2023.”

The nation, he pointed out, needs the opposition political leaders most to rekindle a unifying spirit of solidarity during these challenging times especially in these impending 2019 senatorial and representative elections.

“It is not enough to channel such deep sense of resilience, patriotism and urge for CHANGE through audio and video recordings. Though endorsed as senatorial and representative candidates by UP, LP, ANC and ALP, it appears like candidates Abraham Darius Dillon and Telia Urey are left alone to woo voters and canvass for opposition victory in vote-rich Montserrado, which in my opinion seems unpredictable and unfair,” the Student and youth activist remarked.

He admonished Boakai, Brumskine, Cummings and Urey, as key opposition political leaders to consider “The Montserrado Factor” as an indispensable political capital they could leech and/or lane on for future elections. Yet another opportunity has been made available for you to resist Weah’s overly ambitious plan of consolidating excessive power ahead of 2023. You must prevent this moribund semblance of fascism and authoritarianism.

“You have all it takes to WIN in 2023 as opposition collaborating parties (UP, LP, ANC and ALP). But such victory begins now in 2019 and beyond! Yes, you can win Weah and his Coalition of Desperate Crooks (CDC, NPP, LPDP and MDR), digging out statistics from the 2017 election during which President Weah and his Coalition of CDC, NPP, and LPDP won 723,703 votes votes constituting the total of 46.5 while the opposition won the aggregate of 732,524 totaling 47.2, meaning that the opposition collaborating parties stand a better chance to win in 2023 if they remain on this plinth of unhindered unity, honesty and loyalty.

Besides, he noted that victory in 2023 is largely dependent on 2020 and 2019 elections. “This is why all four political leaders MUST consider these senatorial and representative by-elections very crucial. Getting fully involved with this process could even avert or discourage any form of electoral fraud/malfeasance (November 2018 Sinoe County Senatorial By-election is a case to reference and a lesson learned),” he added.