The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Timothy T. Seaklon
18 April 2008
The crisis within the leadership of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has deepened as the embattled acting National Chairman, Joshua Sackie has been recognized by the National Elections Commission (NEC) and that he still maintains his status.
The latest development comes barely a day after the Standard bearer of the CDC, former Soccer legend, George Manneh Weah pledged his support to the party's Executive Committee for accepting the resignation of Joshua Sackie and announcing his support for Mrs. Geraldine Doe-Sheriff.
According to a communication dated April 15, 2008 and addressed to Mr. Sackie, the National Elections Commission (NEC) said, "since the crisis is internal in nature, some members of the Executive Committee are claiming that you resigned while you and some other members on the other hand are insisting that you did not resign."
The NEC said since there is no formal complaint before it to enable it (NEC) to hold a formal hearing thereby ensuring adherence to the due process of law, the Commission has no option but to continue to recognize Mr. Sackie as Acting Chairman of the CDC.
The NEC said that that would remain the position of the Commission until the matter is resolved either internally within the CDC or through a formal hearing at the Commission as an NEC letter signed By Nathan P Garbie, Deputy Executive Director for External Affair at the commission said
A press statement issued by Mr. Sackie as the National Chairman of the party yesterday, informed all members of the party that NEC being reasonable enough had reaffirmed Mr. Joshua Sackie as the recognized Acting National of the CDC.
The statement said that the reaffirmation by NEC is a victory for all CDC partisans and should be viewed as a new impetus that ought to bring the party back together in a common political fold for the continuous rebuilding of the party nation-wide.
"Sadly, the attention of the office of the Acting National Chairman is drawn to the ill-informed utterances allegedly attributed to Mr. George Weah in which he expressed his support for Mrs. Geraldine Doe-Sheriff as the new acting Chairman of the CDC," the statement noted.
The statement said further that the allegation by Mr. Weah that Mr. Sackie informed him of his resignation is far-fetched, fabricated and oblivious.
Mr. Sackie said he wishes to set the record straight because for the past one year, he has neither phoned, nor has he been phoned by Mr. Weah as is being claimed.
The statement continued that Mr. Weah's expressed support for Mrs. Doe-Sheriff is not a new development since he has always wanted to dominate the party's leadership with 'politically-blinded loyalists' who would be used as stooges for his personal pursuits.
Mr. Sackie said astonishingly that Mr. Weah blatantly disregarded the decision of NEC which was reached after scrutinizing arguments presented by both parties. He said this is highly troubling.
He said Mr. Weah's statements portray him as one who is out of touch with actual happenings of the party, thereby leaving him relying on informants who have largely misled him into making counter-progressive statements to the detriment of the party.
Mr. Sackie called on all plural-minded party members not to allow themselves to be enticed by the self-gratification baits of counter-progressive forces whose only interest lie in political profiteering, caring less about the damages such inordinate quests bestow upon the party.
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