On Saturday, May 27, 2023 the Standard Bearer of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Alexander Benedict Cummings, named the daughter of Liberty Party’s Founding Father, Cllr. Charles M. Brumskine, as his vice presidential candidate for the October 10, 2023 general and presidential elections, with the ticket settling the argument of gender balance, youth inclusion, geopolitical strength, competence, professionalism and moral uprightness.
The Alexander B. Cummings-Charlyne M. Brumskine (ABC-CMB) ticket has been largely greeted with enormous approvals from many quarters of the society, elevating the debate of political alternative for those who do not support a Weah second term and do not crave for the reoccurrence of a Unity Party-led administration. The ticket is also said to have boasted the chances of Cummings entering the run-off with either Joe Boakai or President Weah, with the second and third largest tribes in the Republic, Bassa and Grebo, massively endorsing the candidates.
A show of loyalty and commitment was displayed by the people of Grand Bassa County for the selection of their own, Charlyne Mnamar-mah Brumskine, to contest as a vice presidential candidate in the up-coming elections. Along the way to the Fairground, Buchanan, where the program was held, the Hot Pepper observed a gigantic billboard with the photos of Cummings and Brumskine, with the inscription, “BassaLand Says Yes”, as well as individuals grouped in small numbers walking their way to the event. An elderly man spoken to said they needed to show Cummings and the CPP that Charlyne Bumskine is their own and they will stand by her throughout these elections.
Tubman Street began to lockdown by midday—far before the arrival of Cummings and his entourage from Monrovia. The residents of the county, as well as others who made their way from Rivercess, Margibi and elsewhere, awakened the euphoria with their CPP t-shirts and strange vernacular battle cries. Cummings and entourage hit Monrovia Parking at approximately 2:45 p.m., with a political showmanship of hundreds of supporters parading along the fleet of vehicles.
At the naming ceremony, several traditional, cultural as well as masked dancers from Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Rivercess, and Grand Bassa counties, entertained thousands of partisans, supporters, sympathizers and well-wishers with folk music and dance as the behemoth crowd paraded along with the long CPP vehicles convoy through Tubman Street to Fairground for the official endorsement ceremony.
Dozens of CPP auxiliaries and civil society groups, including the Paco Movement for Real Change, Muslims United For Better Liberia, Changes of Women Organization, Charlyne’s Angels, CPP USA Chapter, Liberia Solidarity Movement, and the African Creative Fashion Group, carried banners and chanted slogans of support and allegiance to the “Cummings/Brumskine Ticket”, terming it the best, most qualified and competent ticket to replace the “inept” leadership of President George Weah.
Music and sound of drums and folk songs echoed from and around Fairground, especially by the various traditional Bassa groups, wearing CPP t-shirts with “BassaLand Says Yes” in jubilation for the ticket.
At the official program, a 12-member Elder Council of Grand Bassa County welcomed and appreciated the CPP Standard Bearer’s previous visits and subsequent selection of their daughter, Counsellor Charlyne M. Brumskine, as his running mate in the October 10 general and presidential elections.
In keeping with traditional rites, they later presented Charlyne to Cummings, gowned the pair, and pledged support and absolute loyalty to the success of the CPP come October 10, 2023.
The elders also presented a traditional handmade cutlass to former Grand Bassa County Senator, Gbezohngar Findley, for onward presentation to Cummings, signifying the transfer of working tool for the task ahead. The FIXER is fully prepared. Presenting the cutlass to Cummings, the former Grand Bassa County Senator also expressed appreciation for the CPP choice of Counsellor Charlyne Brumskine as Vice Standard Bearer.
Findley said, with Charlyne as running mate, he officially declared his unflinching support to the presidential bid of the CPP Standard Bearer, Alexander Cummings, come October 10, 2023.
Charlyne’s mother, Estelle Brumskine, in a special statement paid tribute to her late husband and Founder of the Liberty Party, Counsellor Charles W. Brumskine, and subsequently thanked the CPP comprising the Alternative National Congress (ANC), the Liberty Party (LP) and other auxiliaries and politicians for the decision to select her daughter as running mate to Cummings.
Making the official pronouncement of Cllr. Charlyne M. Brumskine, the CPP Standard Bearer said he was gratified to have selected a daughter of Grand Bassa County and received her acceptance to be his running mate in the pending general and presidential elections slated October 10.
Cummings expressed gratitude to the elders and people of Grand Bassa County for the massive show of support and solidarity at Charlyne’s endorsement in Buchanan on May 27, 2023.
The CPP Standard Bearer said, together with Charlyne, party stalwarts, supporters and the Liberian people, they will work assiduously to restore good governance, transform the life of the masses and change Liberia for the good of all Liberians.
Cummings assured Liberians that upon his ascendancy as President of Liberia, effective next January 2024 Liberians will begin to experience immediate change in their living condition and the system of governance.
In her acceptance statement, Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine extended thanks and appreciation to the CPP for her selection as running mate to Cummings in the up-coming October 10 general and presidential elections. “I am humbled to have been chosen to be ‘Fixer 2’ and serve this great nation,” she said.
She made a passionate appeal to citizens of BassaLand, including Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Margibi, Montserrado, Bong and elsewhere in Liberia, as well as Liberians in the Diaspora to join the CPP campaign and elect Cummings as the next President of Liberia.
“I promise you I will work hard for you. I will hit the ground running. Next week you will hear me on your radios, in the newspapers, in your churches, and in your communities. We will have conversations about what your vision for a new Liberia is. We will roll out policy statements intended to turn the tide in this country. We will listen to you and we will be a partner to you. We will do campaigning and electioneering differently. This campaign is for the people and by the people.
“To all of the silent voters, those who wake up every morning thinking about how they will find a cup of rice to eat or money to send their children to school, I accept this offer because of you,” she observed.
She idolized legendary women of Liberian history for laying the foundation for the moment. “To all of the women and elders who have opened the door, walked through and then ushered me to this place in history, Her Excellency Madame Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Her Excellency Madam Jewel Howard Taylor, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, Madam Leymah Gbowee, Madam Angie Brooks and Madam Nye-sua coco, this moment would not have been possible without you. Thank you,” she noted.
In her words of gratitude to Cummings, Cllr. Brumskine said, “To Mr. Alexander B. Cummings, since the first post-war democratic election in 2005 and every election thereafter, 2011, 2017, Liberty Party has been represented on the Presidential ballot. Had it not been for your foresight and your strategic approach in selecting your Vice Standard Bearer, this would have been the first year that no one from Liberty Party or Bassaland would be on the ballot. I assure you Bassaland understands the significance of what you did. You will see the results on October 10.”
Several other prominent citizens, including aspirants of Grand Bassa and Rivercess, made remarks, rallying the support of all Bassa citizens residing throughout Liberia to join in the “real change agenda” of the CPP to make Weah a one-term President.