By: Pajibo Wlemus,Clara Town, Bushrod Island, Monrovia

If Alexander B. Cummings, or ABC, as he is affectionately called by his supporters, is anything, then he is an enigma of an already “failed presidency” waiting to happen. His supporters have asked us to believe that “he’s fresh”, “got new ideas”, “he’s a representative of change”, and the “real deal for the presidency”. They have argued based on the belief that “if Liberians keep doing the same thing over and over, they will get the same result”. Implying that Cummings is the different result needed for Liberia. The truth is, Cummings is rotten on the inside, a double layered desperado wanting to reignite the good old days of the masonic; and the perished ideals of Liberia’s 133 years of oligarchy.

Why Cummings offer no new ideas but rather sending a mixed signal?

Why are supporters of Cummings still trumpeting that he is “fresh” or “new” when in recent days and weeks we have seen grand new entries in the political arena with the expressed aspirations of Mr. Daniel Cassell, and Taiwon Gongle? But being new merely for being new sake doesn’t present Cummings with the latitude of offering new ideas. Cummings talking “momojumbo” as in wanting to raise the budget from 500 million to 1 billion. Before anyone deals with the “how” that comes along with the conversation, everyone’s beginning to see how Cummings is sending a mixed signal on this subject. Liberia’s single most important urgency is not how much the country projects in its national budget, it’s about fiscal management first; it’s about closing loopholes in national public sector spending, dealing with waste and abuse. Put simply, managing the little we have, is by far important than dreaming in misery. Cummings wants us to dream in misery without telling the Liberian people how he is going to manage the little we have as a country. When asked about details on how he’s going to raise the budget to 1 billion, he spoke on two sides of his mouth – first, I understood him as saying, “to expand the import base of the country so that more Liberians can participate”, and the next moment, the brother said he managed huge budget at Coca Cola, therefore, that translates – no specifics whatsoever. Cummings lacks details! His ideas are entrenched with talking points and he’s out of touch with the realities of the country’s political economy.

For a country that is import dependent, with higher demands on consumer’s goods and hot commodities, for example, importation of rice from abroad, using Cummings economic model and tax philosophy will double the cost of living for average and struggling Liberians under a Cummings presidency. His economic plan of expanding the import base of the country is shielded with increasing importation of basic and essential goods while raising taxes on goods imported as part of his strategy to raise the 1 billion in projected revenue. Raising taxes on the struggling masses is an old, discredited idea; it isn’t a new and fresh idea; and certainly, Liberians are receiving mixed signal about his signature economic revitalization plan tied around big budget; poor human, material, and economic conditions of the people. This is simply a failed plan waiting to happen.

Why Cummings doesn’t come across genuine, but rather desperate and made of two layers

Cummings said he struggled with “being gay”. Quite astonishing! But he won’t give a clear-cut policy direction about gay rights under a Cummings regime. Is Liberia going to be a pro-LGBTQ or anti-LGBTQ nation under Cummings? Cummings is having a weak marathon on this because, truth being told, there is nothing political about one’s sexual desires and feelings; the inner side of us that helps us to love and feel loved. If Cummings “struggled with being gay”, then he is simply pro-gay, and we expect Liberia, a pro-LGBTQ nation under Cummings. The implication of this proposition further debases the very existence of long held traditions and cultural practices, which Cummings is trying hard to earn as a legacy. Why should we risk our traditionally held customs and practices to ONE MAN? Cummings plans to adopt pro-LGBTQ policies and legislate new laws to that effect to attract Western support and funding to his government. This is how he also intends to raise the budget to 1 billion, by debasing our traditions, customs, and practices. We must stand as a traditional nation ready to fight against Cummings’ LGBTQ imperialism.

On the issue of war crimes, Cummings has been nothing but indifferent. During the 2017 elections, Cummings held a position on citizen’s call for the establishment of war and economic crimes court that was not only weak but lacked leadership. His position “then” was “If, the Liberian people want it”. Recently, When the United States Congress began subcommittee Congressional hearings on this subject, commanding good press and a sense of optimism, Cummings suddenly joined the crusade. Why is this man not genuine? Why is Cummings not willing to stand up for something, even if there is no one standing with him, or even during impossible odds? Is this what we call “changed leadership?” Are we reconstructing change for Cummings as one who submit to cowardice in times when leadership is most needed from him, and lights a candle when the day has already dawned with brightness? Cummings is certainly not a LEADER. He is a decorated follower who sits at the top and follow the lead of others. Put simply, Cummings will be Weah 2.0, and what Liberians don’t want after 2023 is anyone who is not genuine to the Liberian people.