By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The leader of the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) has been defending himself against claim by the head of the four-party Collaborating Political Parties, Senator Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence that he tampered with the CPP Framework document, according to an investigation panel.
But in reaction to the allegations over the weekend, Mr. Alexander Cummings told a news conference that he is not a corrupt man and he has never been a fraudster all of his life.
The ANC leader rejected call for him to take the responsibility of altering the frame work document of the CPP.
Late last week, CPP Chairperson, Senator Karngar Lawrence called on Mr. Cummings to take responsibility for the altering of the CPP Framework work document.
According to her, the investigation finds that there were significant procedural lapses leading to the submission of the Framework Document with the NEC under the leadership of Mr. Cummings.
But the ANC political leader and former Coca Cola Africa executive termed the claims by Senator Lawrence as a system adopted by some class of citizens who think that they are the ones qualified to lead in Liberia.
He challenged Senator Lawrence to show any substantial evidence that the CPP frame work document was altered than the observation made by the team of lawyers of the collaboration.
Mr. Cummings demanded that Senator Lawrence, the Unity Party leader, Ambassador Joseph Boakai; and the leader of the All Liberian Party, Benoni Urey apologize to the Liberian people for trying to break up the CPP.
The ANC leader pointed out that the CPP frame work document amended by the legal advisors and approved by all parties is materially, substantially, and provisionally the same as the frame work document filed to the National Elections Commission.
“To them, this may be politics, but it is evil and malicious,” he said, adding: “they may have succeeded temporarily as no matter what we say there are some people who will not believe us, but I promise you, they will fail.”
“I want to confirm and assure you that I, Alexander Cummings, did not alter the framework document as amended by the Lawyers and approved by the parties.”
According to him , there is the fact that Senator Karngar-Lawrence , knows that former Vice President Joseph Boakai knows that and Benoni Urey knows that the committee’s report in its observation stated in its report from 13 to 22 observed that except for the slight structural re-arrangements, all provisions including definitions, headquarters, party membership, withdrawal clause and the leadership of the advisory council , the national executive committee , communication , eligibility , nomination, dispute resolution , timetable duration are in the copy filed with the NEC as it is the amendment from the lawyers.
In the findings, Mr. Cummings went on, the committee contradicted their observations by only comparing the May 19 frame work document to the frame work document filed to the National Elections Commission without regard for the lawyers’ amendment, knowingly that the focus would be on the findings and not the observations.
“This is why the ANC contested the findings for its inconsistence with the observations and submitted its dissent to the national advisory council,” he said.
The ANC leader maintained that Senator Lawrence had no authority to hold a press conference on behalf of the CPP because her tenure as head of the collaboration has ended and worse of all; she did not consult the view of the ANC for review or its input before releasing the statement on behalf of the CPP.
Mr. Cummings claimed that Senator Lawrence intentionally and maliciously intended to deceive, read selective parts of the contested findings as the basis for claiming that he ( Cummings) should take responsibility for the alterations of the frame work document, thus unleashing the public onslaught .
“I have been silent to enable the committee to work and for the lawyers respond,” he said; “unfortunately, I can no longer remain silent while my name is being dragged in the mud and my hard earned reputation tarnished by individuals who feel entitled to state power.”
“ I have recognized that I am up against a system that I deeply rooted on our society , a system that is intent keepings things as they are because it benefit few of them.”
“A system that is intent on keeping our people uneducated so they can easily manipulate them with falsehood and propaganda so that they will take funds intended for the people and put in the pockets of a few leaders.”
“A system that would not create jobs for our people because the leaders want the people to depend on the personally for crumbs and continuously said that I am a stranger, that I am unknown , that I should give chance to Ambassador Boakai and go as his vice president.”
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