Since the incumbency of the George Manneh Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) to the helm of state power in Liberia, the mainstream opposition political parties have organized into a collaboration named and styled the Collaboration of Political Parties (CPP) to checkmate the governance process being steered by the CDC in unanimity. The CPP, comprising of Alternative National Congress (ANC) of Alexander Cummings, the Liberty Party (LP) of Senator Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence, the Unity Party of former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and the All-Liberian Party (ALP) of Benoni Urey, has worked in unison since until recently when issue of conducting Voters’ Perspective Survey (VPS) to determine who will be their standard-bearer comes into the fore. The ANC which earlier suggested a VPS as the ultimate channel of finding CPP’s leader later agreed with the rest of the parties to conduct a non-binding VPS and primary which is also supported by Liberty Party, while the ALP prefers convention of the collaboration with equal representation as agreed mutually by all members of the CPP. Amidst the impasse characterizing the public opinions expressed by members of the CPP, the ruling CDC held a major retreat with mass attendance where its Political Leader, President George Manneh Weah predicted a failure of the CPP in its collaboration, citing the internal wrangling in the collaboration and implores his partisans to be a matured and united governance machine”. “A house divided amongst itself cannot stand,” President Weah said. The Analyst reports from President Weah’s the statement delivered at his Party’s retreat last Saturday, March 7, 2020.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at a retreat of the CDC, President Weah predicted that Collaboration of the four mainstream opposition political parties will not succeed. The CPP has been engaged to checkmate the ruling CDC in in its excesses in governance with the objective of preferring joint tickets against the CDC during the 2020 midterm senatorial election and the 2023 representative and presidential elections.
Addressing the CDC retreat of last Saturday, President Weah predicted that the Coalition will be a failure on grounds that “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Weah said the CDC should be committed in their efforts at governance, and that the opposition’s engagement at criticisms is aimed at diverting their attention.
He said the Congress for Democratic Change was a peaceful opposition which afforded its predecessor the space to run the affairs of government, saying that the CDC government has for this reason been building upon development projects of past government.
Speaking further at the rally, President George Manneh Weah expressed happiness over the turnout and said he was reminded of the humble beginning of the CDC back in 2005 and the current mandate it has as a ruling party.
The CDC, President Weah said, remains committed to the mandate of its supporters who voted the party to power, saying that the CDC is based on hope and choice with the expectation that the lives of the people would be changed for the better.
Weah said it is hoped that the prospects of the people would be brighter and that their children will have a more peaceful and prosperous future, and admonished his partisans to transition from being winning party by conducting ourselves like the party with all the responsibilities that were placed on our shoulder.
He maintained that the CDC is in the third year of its six-year mandate, noting that it is time now that the party recalibrates “into a mature and united governance machine;” he also declared focus on transformation and rapid development of all sectors of our economy and society.”
Meanwhile, President Weah said some partisans were given the opportunity to serve but have been ineffective in their jobs, and he pointed out that that has been giving the party bad name; urging that such partisans are required to buckle up to their game and be more diligent on assignments if they should not be replace.
He then advised CDCians to reach out to all those who had ensure the CDC’s victory in 2017 and also to all well-meaning Liberians for the prospects of the processes ahead.
The National Patriotic Party’s Standard-bearer, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor pledged the support of the NPP to the coalition at all times, assuring that the NPP will forever be an integral part of the Coalition for democratic Change.
Alex Tyler of the Liberia People Democratic Party (LPDP) spoke in similar manner pledging support to the tripartite Coalition for Democratic Change comprising of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the NPP of Vice President Jewel Taylor and Mr. Tyler’s LPDP.
The retreat gave the CDC the hope that the party could reclaim the seat of Montserrado County from incumbent Senator Abraham Darius Dillon who was elected during the recent bi-election intended to occupy the seat of CDC’s late Senator Geraldine considering that the turnout at the rally was astonishing.
Apparently, CDC amalgamated its forces ahead of the October senatorial election to mobilize for the tumultuous turnout at the retreat.
Commenting on the CDC retreat, Senator Abraham D. Dillon writes on his facebook page:
“Bible says, “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Same way, FEAR of LIGHT is the beginning of “RETREATS.”
We thank CDC for fearing the LIGHT and holding a “RETREAT” in our honor today. October, here we come!! #TheLight #CPP.
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