CDC Prophesizes Big Victory in 2011 Ellection

Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:19

Written by The Analyst

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The Party which won first round balloting in 2005 but was not declared winner for failing to reach the legal mark of fifty percent plus one, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), says its blessing of victory this time around comes this year. The party’s prediction clashes with the ruling Unity Party which snatched final victory from the CDC in the second and final round of the 2005 and is saying it will win this year’s election at one short--without a runoff. Reporter Sallu K. Swaray covered yesterday’s political rally at which time the new standard-bearer of the CDC, Winston Tubman, made the vow and in this report compares Tubman’s prediction with other variables on the ground.

The Standard Bearer of the Congress for Democratic Change, Cllr. Winston A. Tubman, has declared that the upcoming 2011 Presidential and General Elections hold brighter prospects for none other but the CDC.

Speaking Monday to thousands of partisans shortly upon his arrival from the United States at a program held in his honor at the CDC Headquarters on Tubman Boulevard in Sinkor, Cllr. Tubman said as the largest political party in the country, the CDC is better suited and well-positioned to pull the necessary votes for decisive victory at the poll this year.

Tubman said he was sorry for some parties that are masquerading and falsely claiming to the largest political bloc in the country.

He said these parties are fooling themselves because they lack the popular appeal and don’t have the capacity to pull crowds like the CDC and win to election.

He indicated that the CDC can not only pull crowds in Monrovia but could do the same in every part of the country. He told the partisans that the display of gigantic crowds yesterday was just the beginning of what the CDC will continue to do and even do far better in the coming weeks, when George O. Weah, “my son and Vice Standard Bearer arrives from the United States”.

Tubman informed the applause-drunk crowds that in two weeks time he and Weah will be touring the City of Monrovia.

He however said this week was also an important week for the CDC party because in two days he will be going to the United States with some members of the party to witness the graduation of Mr. George Weah from a university.

Tubman added that Weah is capable of obtaining superb educational qualities and achievements more than anybody else because he has demonstrated competence and dexterity.

The CDC standard bearer also stated that besides academic credentials anyone needed to be guided by common sense, wisdom and vision which Weah has shown possessing.

The CDC standard-bearer reiterated that elections are not about education; they are about numbers and the CDC has the numbers.

He told the jubilant crowds that the CDC ticket is very attractive to the extent that it is causing trepidations amongst other political camps.

“There are a lot of people in this country who are afraid of our ticket because this ticket will win and lead our people and our country,” Tubman said amid thunderous cheers.

Tubman stressed that “if you are a grassroots person today, that doesn’t mean you will be a grass-rooter forever and we will have a situation where grass-rooters will move up and become equal to others of high social status.”

He further said the CDC was working hard to bring Liberians together as one people since those entrusted with the task to do so have failed and continue to cause more division in the country.

He did not name anyone.

Tubman said the CDC was out not for a joke, but will demonstrate its populous nature by winning the ensuing elections and begin the serious national business of genuine reconciliation, unity and national development and progress that can sustain durable peace and harmony in the country.

While the CDC put up a brave fight in 2005, winning the first round of elections with the Unity Party, now ruling, trailing, the political clouds appear relatively beak for the party this year compared with 2005.

According to some political commentators, the CDC’s popularity has been substantially petered out in the aftermath of a huge exodus of partisans, including major strategists and stalwarts who helped bolstered its strength in 2005.

Besides, in 2005, as other commentators think, all political parties went into the race without an incumbency factor. The commentators say incumbency factor can be chiefly attributed to the huge defection that the CDC has suffered, because some of its staunched partisans were wooed by the ruling party either with jobs or cash.

Others also say Tubman must be misreading the political terrain because to think CDC can win this year’s elections because its base, the ordinary people, particularly the youth, have formed alliances with other political blocs, including the ruling party.

The political terrain has radically changed since 2005, as an analyst argued because, according to him, some of those who were considered, or who considered themselves, as grassroots and therefore thought they only belonged to the CDC have grown in social status and making independent decisions nowadays.

There are many stronger political blocs that have emerged since 2005 and are contesting the elections with greater vigor and determination, other analysts opine, and that these blocs have largely fed on, or milked away, CDC’s fortress, the bulk of the ordinary or grassroots people.

Still, there are some pundits who think the sudden change of face from the standard-bearer slot of the party--from Weah to Tubman--has significantly robbed the party reasonable chunk of partisans who believed only in Weah and wanted him to be the one to hold on the top position within the Party.

Some of these grassroots partisans or former partisans of the CDC have been using the change of standard-bearer as justification for their protest vote; they have defected to other parties, including the ruling party.

Against the combinations of the variables driving the current electoral playing field vis-à-vis the chances of the CDC, some pundits believe Tubman’s prediction appear far-fetched and may come true only with a magic wand performed or with Providence’s personal intervention.

But who knows? Tubman’s prophesy could just come true as he said it.