Activist Martin K. N. Kollie writes…
Dear Charlyne M. Brumskine,
I do this out of love and amity whilst being conscious of your right to choose and associate. This open letter does not seek to disenfranchise you in any form or manner. It aims not to inhibit your suffrage either. Let no one misstate my intent.
Any attempt at presenting an askew interpretation of this bold caution would be a lost undertaking. Once more, I pose no objection to your aspiration of becoming whomever and whatever. But my truth to you is intended to summon a moment of sober reflection. It is a reality check that’s in your best interest.
The stakes are high amid optimism bias and intrigue. Thus, we cannot afford to be so idealistic and deific about national choices. Politics is neither divinity nor sorcery. I have never known you to be a utopian. Being practical and shrewd about what is possible at this point does matter.
Anything less than this, economist Bryan Caplan’s concept of ‘rational irrationality’ holds true – a concept wherein a voter or an aspirant cares less about making a reasonable decision/judgment simply because such a decision has a very low personal cost on him/her. In this case, intentional errors replace rational choices.
Sister counsel, I have no intention to place you in such a category. But I think it is time to reflect. The Liberty Party (LP) is at war with itself. Whether you accept to be the running mate to ANC Alexander Cummings or not, this fact remains ironclad to date. This was never what Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine dreamed of and aspired to achieve when he journeyed to birth LP. His legacy cannot be salvaged in crisis and conspiracy.
I have sat afar and watched how agent provocateurs have succeeded in making you believe that you and Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence are political archrivals. There is an ‘invisible hand’ fueling this feud even more. Who doesn’t know this? I had hoped you would have played a mediatory role instead of taking a side. How could you even side with a FIFA convict like Musa Hassan Bility? I am still awed though. It is time to reflect.
Between Musa Bility and Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, who better mirrors LP’s image and founding principles? Before CWB could pass (eternal light upon him), he crowned NKL as the political leader of LP. Where was Bility then? Let no one set you up against NKL. This is my candid advice to you. I encourage you to seek genuine peace and reconciliation with NKL.
The politics in Bassa is local like it is everywhere. Whether you decide to run with Cummings or not, Nyonblee remains ‘The Gbosaydeh’ – a title earned through several years of honest service to country, county, and CWB. I had hope you would have worked with Nyonblee to rebuild and rebrand LP. The contrary is a point to ponder about. NKL remains the sage czarina of the politics across the Bassa region. This didn’t happen overnight!
Fate is quite different from fantasy. Truth be told, those who now hail you are the real foes of LP. The intra-party conflict that has since beset LP is an upshot of their conspiracy. To what extent do you want to appease them at L.P.’s expense? What is your endgame? Salvaging CBW’s legacy or succumbing to their theatrics? I hope the latter isn’t emboldened.
I had hoped you would have adequately nursed your earlier desire to contest as a Representative candidate in Bassa. This could have been a perfect start-off to political stardom. But again, it is your right to pursue your vice presidential ambition.
Truth be told, those who now hype your vice-presidential ambition are not helping at all. They are your truest foes, yet they pretend to be your friends. They know very well that ABC is just too far from winning this election. Yet, they are on this sinking ship with him. How can you accept an invitation to drown with them on this sinking ship?
They would go to any length in opposing a revered statesman like Hon Joseph Nyumah Boakai Sr who seeks real change over rash chance. Their ship with dozens of leakages is fast sinking. And any attempt at repairing it is a defiance of gravity, logic, and acuity. Can’t you see, sister counsel? It is time to reflect and probably rethink.
I have no intention of persuading you to change course either. I am more concerned about where this entrapment takes you because we have a bond beyond politics. I love you sister but my camaraderie with you is one based on truth, uprightness, and patriotism.
I am not a believer in false hope. I am not also a believer in self-doubt. However, I am under no illusion that a man who could not even win his own hometown in Maryland County possesses the political capital to incentive your vice-presidential dream.
Even Ellen’s start-off in politics was never a VP role but a cadet position. So why risk it, sister counsel? Don’t allow them to push you beyond what is not possible. It serves their interest more than it serves our country’s interest.
Even Jewel Howard-Taylor never started off as VP. Even U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris started off as Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County in 1990 after obtaining a Juris Doctor in 1989 and being admitted to California Bar.
The political ambition of a Yale Law alumna in Hilary Clinton was nurtured in Parliament. A very powerful woman like Angela Merkel started off as Deputy Spokeswoman of the German Government. Sister counsel, I pledged my support to you as a Representative candidate. But if you accept to be a running mate to ABC which is your right, my support to you seizes to continue because I have no faith in a Cummings-Charlyne Ticket.
There’s another false hope out there that ANC could gain steam in Grand Bassa because your dad, Cllr. CWB, is LP founding father. I don’t think CWB dreamed of LP becoming a dynasty. This did not work for Samuel K. Doe, Jr. when he ran as a senatorial candidate in Grand Gedeh.
It did not work for Charlyne A. Taylor when she ran as a representative candidate in District #5, Montserrado County. It didn’t work for Winston Tubman when he ran as president. If it did not work then, how can it now? The Liberian people are too inclined to know that a Cummings-Charlyne Ticket is a proxy intended to settle political scores. Unfortunately, the people are resolved this time around to dictate their own course and thwart any concocted conspiracy.
Sister counsel, I beseech you to look beyond and safeguard your own political future. You’ve been encircled by those who want to destroy it. They will pacify you anyhow and any day. A sudden change of ambition from a Representative aspirant to a VP aspirant has left many to wonder.
How come Charlyne after Nyonblee said ‘NO’ based on nationalistic grounds? What motivated such a 4G shift? It has become crystal clear that the chief conspirator who plunged us into this mess under GMW in 2017 is attempting again to do the same. But it won’t work this time around. The dynamics and conditions are quite different.
Attempting to repair a sinking ship with dozens of leakages is indeed a defiance of gravity, logic, and acuity.
I will end here and wait to see what happens on Saturday. Liberia first, Liberia forever.
Martin, Martin, Martin. Just read what you wrote again: “They would go to any length in opposing a revered statesman like Hon Joseph Nyumah Boakai Sr who seeks real change over rash chance”. In you right frame of mind does JNB look like anybody who’s seeking real change? I’m perplexed with your utterance Martin. Hahahaha. FYI, JNB represents all that’s ailing Africa. Old, frail, reactionary, but still won’t pass the baton over to the new generation. His desperation for the Presidency has no guardrails and no exceptions. Imaging pairing up with a man like PYJ? Yeah PYJ as in THE PYJ that we all know. Look Martin, I don’t want to write you off as an intellectual, but if you continue with this JNB diabolical logic, you just as well will taint you own legacy. So, here my message to you Martin and Liberia. THINK LIBERIA, LOVE LIBERIA, JUST SAY NO TO SQUANDERERS!