Liberia: “Dagger of Brutus”

Alexander Cummings has linked a plan by the government to have former vice president Joseph Boakai testify against him as a “dagger of Brutus” if that happens.

Cummings, who is in court for forgery and criminal conspiracy, said that Boakai knows that he is innocent and is being falsely accused. 

And while the Alternative National Congress leader has repeatedly denied the charges against him, the government who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the All Liberian Party (ALP) has disclosed that Boakai and the Political Leader of the Liberty Party, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, will testify on their behalf.

But for Cummings, “It would be the dagger of Brutus and will be surprised if Boakai does so.  He knows deep inside we are being falsely accused. If I have committed any crime, it is standing for the promise we made to the Liberian people. It would be really interesting seeing Joe testify against me.  I am very certain of winning the case. We did not alter the CPP Framework Document and the charges against us are false and misleading.”

The trial at Monrovia City Court was initiated after the ALP, founded by businessman Benoni Urey, complained of his opposition compatriot to the government for forgery and criminal conspiracy, regarding the alleged tampering of the Collaborating Political Parties framework agreement.

The ALP, which is a strong political ally of former Vice President Boakai and his  Unity Party (UP), is fulfilling his promise to seek legal action for an “unlawful attachment” of its leader’s signatures to the now-defunct CPP framework document.  It is an open secret that Urey has opposed Cummings’ Presidential ambition -- creating some kind of bad blood between the two.

However, the case at the court is still in its earlier stage and it is yet to be seen whether the former vice president and others will testify against Cummings. Still, there is a possibility Boakai might do so now that he has withdrawn the UP’s membership from the CPP and is no longer bound to its terms.

The CPP, which was once seen as a threat to the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, collapsed after the UP withdrew from the collaboration “due to Cummings’ failure to attend meetings” that were intended to resolve the impasse, Boakai announced in his withdrawal statement. 

“May I say that after so much demand from our partisans, the leadership, and even the Executive Committee of the Unity Party, the UP has finally resolved to withdraw from the CPP," Boakai said in his withdrawal speech last week.  “You are all aware that political disagreements are resolved through negotiations or consensus. Our willingness to continue a CPP depended largely on our honest interactions and cooperation. Sadly, as of now, we see no way forward and so we have all decided to go our separate ways."

However, the ANC rejected the former vice president's claims – instead, they blamed his ‘inability’ to unite and reconcile the CPP as the primary reason for its collapse.

And despite the split, Cummings told the Daily Observer that he holds no regrets joining forces with the UP as a member of the CPP, regardless of his critical view against the former ruling party under then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Mr. Boakai in 2017.

He added that while change may begin with one person, it is best achieved with others. As such, he will not cease partnering with Liberians and Liberian organizations for real change even though some may work and others may not.

Cummings then noted that he joined the CPP with the hope that it would work — but now that has not happened, he is ready to move on, as the country needs a new direction and real change.

“No, I do not regret joining the Unity Party whatsoever. Of course, I had hoped it would work. One must meet the country where it is before one can attempt to take it to where one thinks it ought to be,” Cummings said. “ What is absolutely important in that process is that one's values, principles, and commitments to change are never lost to any association or partnership. “

He added “Some may work and others may not. But we must always be ready to move on and not give up on the real change in our country because Liberia and Liberians need it.  But like all of life's ventures, you try as best as you can. If it doesn't work, you ready yourself to move on.  I am confident though that President Weah will still be a one-term President. Our country needs a new direction and real change.”

Meanwhile, the ANC political leader has disclosed that while the CPP may have collapsed, it has demonstrated that the combination of certain political parties represents a winning formula and that he may be compelled to form another collaboration.

He however said such a plan is still in the future and that his focus now is on the political prosecution against him and other ANC leaders.

“There are always setbacks along the road of change. When these setbacks occur or our wishes do not immediately come through — understandably, it's human to feel let down,” Cummings concludes. “But we can never give up on change for Liberia. If we do, the loss will be on our children and their children. 2023 is a generational election. If you think things are bad now, reelect President Weah and his friends, and it will only get exponentially worse! However down we may feel therefore, we must never lose hope. We have to soldier on. Change is hard but it will happen. Real change will win. It is time.”