By Bill W. Cooper
As means to unseat the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-government, a member of the opposition community has said that only a Joseph N. Boakai and Alexander B. Cummings ticket coupled with a united opposition can defeat President George M. Weah in the ensuing Presidential and Legislative Elections.
John Ballout, a former Senator of Maryland County has stated that Liberia is now at crossroads under the leadership of President Weah, and as such, Boakai as Standard Bearer and Cummings as Vice Standard bearer will undoubtedly engender a better chance of rescuing the country through a first round victory.
Ballout who is a member of the Unity Party (UP) stressed, “The clock is ticking, elections are nearing, the people are anxious, and the atmosphere is tensed. It remains a must that we, members of the opposition unite and make a clear choice of what our objectives are and for whom we are fighting.”
“The choice before us is simple; the opposition can either unite with a Joseph Boakai and Alexander B. Cummings ticket and win the elections first round or divide and lose to the government,” he noted.
Ballout’s comment came amidst serious division within the opposition community as well as the recent split of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) which many saw as the alternative and formidable force to compete and defeat President George M. Weah in the upcoming elections in October of 2023.
Additionally, the Maryland County former Senator remarked that when both Joseph N. Boakai of the Unity Party (UP) and Alexander B. Cummings of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) which are constituent parties of the CPP, are yet to announce their running mate with eight (8) months to elections.
Addressing a news conference yesterday in Monrovia, Boullot explained that his decision to call for a Boakai and Cummings ticket is based on both candidates’ experience acquired over the years in government and the private sector, something he believed if matched, will rescue and save Liberia’s image nationally and internationally.
“Old man Boakai based on his over 40 years in government in which he served with integrity and honesty, do understand the running and governing of a country, while Mr. Cummings who is a seasoned economist has vast understanding and importance of a country’s private sector; so with both together, I foresee Liberia reaching to where we all envisage,” he added.
Ballout stated further that it will be a risk and big mistake for the opposition to engage the 2023 elections divided, emphasizing, “If the opposition goes to 2023 elections divided, it will lose the entire legislature to the ruling party. If it goes to the elections united it will win the entire Legislature thus paving the way for unhindered political, economic and structural reforms.”
“And if one of the members of the opposition reaches the runoff, it will be a daunting task to reconcile differences caused by years of in-house fighting in a month’s time because to mobilize the supporters of factions of the opposition that have developed party fanaticism over the long period of in- house fighting, will not be as automatic as one would think,” he intoned.
Meanwhile, Ballout has at the same time called on the opposition Senators to ensure that the Liberty Party (LP) Standard Bearer and Grand Bassa County Senator, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence go as Senate Pro-tempore, while a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed that guarantees a significant inclusion of the ALP in the governing process of the state.
According to him, the MoU should also guarantee ANC Alexander B. Cummings as the next Standard bearer of the opposition block after UP Joseph Nyuma Boakai and also allow him (Cummings) to choose his Vice-standard bearer from the Liberty Party (LP).
“The MoU should also guarantee the incorporation of all the opposition parties in the governance of the state, as well as on how to address the speakership of the House of Representatives, and ensure that all efforts must be made to reunite the Liberty Party,” he averred.
The Maryland County former Senator at the same time also reminded Liberians and their supporters, that in politics and political arrangements no one gets everything and in the midst of harsh political realities, there must be room for compromise for the sake of greater strength.
He added, “Enough is enough. Everyone in the opposition should consider adopting a new posture of collective respect, partnership, cooperation and collaboration owing to the fact that we are all in this together, and let us use our proximity, experience, education and connection to the various political leaders to reignite the spirit of oneness.”
