Prominent Bassaians support CDC …ask Compatriots not to follow Charlyn and Gbezohngar

The former Grand Bassa County Senator and President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate,  Gbehzohngar Milton Findley,  seems to be left in the cold by three of his long-time campaigners, who are unbending in continuing their support to the re-election bid of President George Manneh Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). 

It can be recalled that Mr. Findley, also a former Minister of Foreign Affairs under the regime of President Weah, who resigned his position and got defeated by Senator Nyonblee in the 2020 Special Senatorial Election, at the weekend endorsed the ticket of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) of  Alexander B. Cummings and running mate Cllr. Charlyne M. Brumskine. 

Mr. Findley endorsed the CPP Ticket during the selection of Madam Brumskine in the Port City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.  

He  described the Cummings-Brumskine Ticket as  the best to fix Liberia and called on the people of Grand Bassa to join him in his support.

However, that decision has been greeted by serious opposition by the men who campaigned with him during his last 19 years of political activities in Grand Bassa. 

They pointed out that the decision by their former boss does not in any way meet their agreement, adding that he unilaterally did so without consultation with them. 

“Our commitment remains with the re-election of President Weah. The Bassa Belt will be delivered because we are not ungrateful. Some of us are in god positions in this government. Even in the 12 years of Madam [Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf] we were not offered the kind of positions that some of us are in today. In fact, the position I am in today as Assistant Minister for American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is my biggest job in my life and it was this government that gave that to me without making any distinction. Several of our Bassa brothers were also place into high profiled positions as well,” said  Maxwell Vah, a longtime campaign manager of Mr. Findley. 

He urged citizens of the Bassa lands, which include: Grand Bassa, River Cess, Margibi and Montserrado Counties not to follow Cllr. Brumskine and Mr. Findley. 

While the former Senate Pro-Temp and former Foreign Minister may be viewed as top political arrow, Mr. Vah indicated that they have been his main strength because they were the ones who went into the trenches in the villages to campaign on his (Findley) behalf. 

“We are prepared to take up the cross. The car is moved by the engine and not by itself; we were the engine to Mr. Findley so let no one fool you. We went into places that he, himself, has never gone  in his entire life before. Our commitment and our support for President Weah will be unending. We will deliver the Bassa belt to him.  They sat in the house and we delivered. We spoke  to our Bassa People, which he doesn’t speak either,” Mr. Vah stated.  

He asserted that Bassa is not the personal heritage of anyone, and as such, Liberians should not be carried away by people who claim to be more Bassaian than others. 

“My message is, don't follow Charlyne tomorrow, follow your son George Manneh Weah. He's a real Bassa son also. Never follow her nor Findley. We will come to your doors to lecture more on this. As I stated, we will pass all over to you. Following Charlyne is the worst decision ever that the Bassa people will ever take,” he added. 

Like Mr. Vah, Emmanuel M. Redd, Human Resources Director at the Foreign Ministry, described the decision as unilateral. 

“We don't support him in the endorsement. We stand by the same cause in 2017. We will ensure that the Bassa Belt is delivered to President Weah.  We will lead the battle; we stand ready to give our unwavering support. We will be taking the issues to the people by measuring the tangibles. As I told you, his decision was unilateral and did not meet the consent of the people,” Mr. Redd noted. 

In remarks, Jefferson Tamba Koijee, Secretary General of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change(CDC)  said the fight at the ensuing October 10 polls is not about President Weah, rather it's about the betterment of Liberians, and as such, Liberians should begin to see reason to embrace the re-election of the Liberian leader.