IPNEWS: For nearly four months now the opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), has been rocked into continuing confusion over ‘tempering of the CPP’s framework document’ which is the roadmap for the forward march of the collaboration.
Amidst these bitter exchanges from sympathizers and partisans of the CPP, there continued to be uneasiness among the political leadership structure of the CPP even though there was high anticipation that the coming-in of former vice president and longtime politician Joseph N. Boakai would have settled the marathon controversy but to no avail.
A classified leaked communication obtained by the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper has revealed how the political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Cummings has beseeched to find an amicable resolution to the impasse within the CPP.
Excerpts from the communication dated November 10, 2021, addressed to CPP Chairman, Joseph N. Boakai read: “Mr. Chairman,
I trust that all is well, and wish you the best on your travels. I am grateful for your letter, and the hopeful expressions conveyed towards reconciling the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP). Toward this end, I reassure you of the continued personal commitment and support, as well as those of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), including toward the realization of the patriotic objectives of the CPP for the betterment of our country. The hope of many Liberians, which the ANC continues to share, is that the CPP would emerge to represent a better alternative for real change in the country.”
However, we cannot hope to genuinely reconcile the CPP, if as leaders, we are unwilling to truthfully confront and conclusively resolve the real causes underlying the deepening disunity and distrust. Unfortunately, the problems of the CPP are not with the membership and those who are sympathy to the CPP. The deepening distrust and disunity are engineered by the political leadership of the CPP, some of whom are manifesting interests in pursuing ‘ambitions outside the agreed rules of the engagement’. As a result, expressions of commitment s to reconcile the CPP, while commendable, must prioritized an affirmation of the legal framework through which we all agreed.”
“Consequently, the ANC does not believe it will be helpful to the CPP, or to any effort of reconciliation, to attempt to resolve these matters behind closed doors, and without the needed openness and transparency required to return the CPP to public confidence and trust. This consideration lies at the heart of the suggestion stated above.” ANC Alexander Cummings stated.
In the aftermath of Cummings expression, the Chairman of the CPP, Hon. Joseph N. Boakai, on the Voice of America there days later squarely placed the deepening confusion within the CPP at the feet of Mr. Alexander Cummings.
Mr. Joseph N. Boakai, stated that Alexander Cummings, political leader of the Alternative National Congress must man-up and take responsibility of tempering of the Collaborating Political Party framework document.
Boakai 77 years told the Voice of America (VOA), Mr. Cummings should take responsibility of tempering of the framework document and allow the opposition move on in its quest to make current President and former soccer star George M. Weah one term president.
“Mr. Cummings should take responsibility of tempering of the framework document; whether it was at his knowledge or was the action of others, it is honorable for him to take responsibility for it to move forward.”
” I’m committed to ensure the opposition move on after all the confusion upon my return to Liberia. We are all leaders of the opposition and as an experience leader of the opposition i m committed to bringing the crisis to an end.” Former vice President Joseph Boakai to VoA.
Currently visiting the United States, Mr. Boakai laugh-out at criticism that he was a old wine to lead Liberia rather than a much younger and energetic Alexander Cummings.
“Sometimes it’s good to deal with the old wine, its has much fomenting power, and certainly we committed to make George Weah a one term president.” Said Mr. Boakai.
The Political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) and constituent member of the main opposition Collaborating Political Parties, (CPP) has maintained as broad day lies assertion by former Chairperson of the CPP, Liberty Party’s Political leader Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and folks within the CPP that he altered provisions of the collaboration’s framework document .
Addressing a major Press conference on Sunday, October 10, 2021, the simply relaxed ANC Political leader stated that he and the ANC ‘DID NOT’ alter the provisions of the Framework Document, rather the Framework Document amended by the legal advisors and approved by all Parties is materially, substantially and provisionally the same as the Framework Document filed with the National Elections Commission to register the CPP. Cummings questioned how then the Framework Document filed at the National Elections Commission offers him advantage over anyone in the CPP, neither did it offer any advantage over any other member-party in the CPP.
Minutes after Mr. Boakai’s interview with the VOA, Mr. Alexander Cummings expressed disappointment over the Chairman of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Amb. Joseph N. Boakai comments linking him to CPP Framework Agreement (FA) while on his medical visit to the United States.
Cummings said FA, which is the instrument that binds the four parties, has been in existence for more than a year and has been repeatedly used to determine how the CPP functions and operated in many previous elections. After more than a year, it says a lot about the leadership capacities of anyone claiming alleged alteration.
“Despite pointing to the Framework Agreement as being the source of the CPP problems, it is yet to be established what was “dubiously, viciously, and purposefully altered allegedly by some nefarious individuals within the hierarchy of the CPP – and replaced by “Alien Clauses” to engender ulterior motives” as charged by Mr. Urey on August 18, 2021. Of course, neither Ambassador Boakai, Senator Karnga-Lawrence, nor Mr. Urey can point to these alleged alterations in the FA to which they are in disagreement or that benefits the ANC while disadvantaging other member-parties. Their alteration talking point is a conspiratorial smokescreen which they believe by repeating long enough, the falsehood will somehow become truthful.”
“The stubborn truth remains that the amended version of the Framework Agreement, presented by the lawyers and approved by the parties, is materially, provisionally and substantially the same as the one filed with the National Elections Commission. And this is a fact!”
“Therefore, it is disingenuous for Ambassador Boakai to be calling for reconciliation, and at the same time, continue as his predecessor did, to throw around accusations he has reasons to know are patently false, as he and his co-conspirators have tried and failed to prove otherwise.” Alexander Cummings maintained.
The ANC Political leader further said that the problems within the CPP is all about self-amibition of some of its leaders and not the FA as been publicized.
Alexander Cummings: “The CPP does, however, have a problem. The real problem is not with the Framework Agreement. It is in the ambitions of so-called leaders who would like to pursue their personal ambitions through means other than the democratic primaries agreed to by all the parties.”
“Ambassador Boakai knows he will lose to the Candidate of REAL CHANGE, Mr. Alexander Cummings, in a CPP Democratic Primary as provided for in the Framework Agreement. As a result, he (Boakai) is conspiring with others to circumvent the holding of democratic primaries even at the expense of undermining the unity of the CPP, including beclouding it with public doubts, and risking the desire of the Liberian people to make President Weah a one-term President. This is without honor and shameful to the core.”
“Two facts are not lost on the Liberian people. The first is that President Weah is a total failure. He is incompetent and misleading Liberia into backwardness, and Liberians into worsening economic conditions. The second fact is that there is only one REAL CHANGE candidate with the pedigree, track record and clean hands to turn things around for the better. That candidate is Mr. Alexander B. Cummings who is unencumbered by corruption and Liberia’s history of misrule.”
