After months of internal wrangling and infighting, the opposition Liberty Party (LP) now seems poised to pursue the path of true reconciliation, following last Monday’s meeting with her party’s political leader, Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence and the national chairman Musa Hassan Bility at the Supreme Court where Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie sought to harmonize the party’s long-standing rift that erupted over allegations of constitution alteration.
After the meeting which she described as a big turning point in the history of the party via her social media page, Senator Lawrence said there was no winner in all that has happened to the party and promised to do whatever in her means to reconcile the political institution.
“As Political Leader of our party, I want to assure all of our partisans that the Liberty Party will heal and smile again. I shall work overtime to reconcile our great party. At times, conflicts do present a learning opportunity. I’m sure all sides to this conflict have learned some lessons. It’s only in unity that we’re strong. Our mantra, ‘Together We Can Do Better’ has become more meaningful and inspiring,” the LP political leader said Tuesday in her position statement posted on social media.
Providing a background to the LP internal conflict, Senator Lawrence said though the issues in the party must have been told differently by each side, it was actually generated around the authenticity of the constitution that was adopted at the Gbarnga Convention in 2021..
“As you may already know, our party has been plagued by internal rifts for nearly two years, resulting in a big division and the creation of two factions. The crux of the confusion may have been presented to the public differently by each side, but for the record, it stems from contention about the authenticity of the Constitution which was adopted at the Gbarnga Convention (the 2021 LP Constitution). After the Gbarnga Convention, I was shocked when it came to my attention that the Constitution which was adopted at the convention and the minutes of the convention, were filed at the National Elections Commission without my knowledge as presiding officer of the convention. The filing was done against persistent reminders that I needed to review, sign and file the reports of the convention,” PL Lawrence remarked.
She noted that the conference at the Supreme Court once again validated her point that the 2021 Constitution submitted to NEC did not reflect what was adopted by the delegates at the Gbarnga Convention and was also illegally filed.
“This is no attempt to take glory. We’re simply fulfilling one of our responsibilities to our people- accountability. There’s no winner in all that has happened to our party. The conflict has deeply injured the image of our party and frustrated hundreds of thousands of people who have committed their lives towards building this institution for nearly two decades.
“As instructed by the Justice-In-Chambers at yesterday’s conference, we shall assemble at the Supreme Court on Friday to correct all the alterations made in the 2021 Constitution. After that, I will officially submit the document to NEC as required by law.
“As Political Leader of our party, I want to assure all of our partisans that the Liberty Party will heal and smile again. I shall work overtime to reconcile our great party. At times, conflicts do present a learning opportunity. I’m sure all sides to this conflict have learned some lessons. It’s only in unity that we’re strong. Our mantra, “Together We Can Do Better” has become more meaningful and inspiring.
“Finally, I want to urge all of you to put on the armor and courage for reconciliation, the first of the 4Rs in our Manifesto. The fighting is over and it’s time to move forward. After the Friday session at the Supreme Court, we shall issue a statement clearly setting forth a road map for genuine peace and unity in our party.
“I hold malice against no one for all that we’ve been through. I will endeavor to reach out to everyone as my arms remain open to embrace everyone. Call me when you can, and as always, I would be willing to talk. The legacy of CWB shall never perish,” Senator Lawrence averred in a reconciliatory tone.
It can be recalled that LP Chairman Musa Hassan Bility also called for reconciliation within the Liberty Party when he appeared recently on a radio talk show program.
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