𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦: 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲

By: Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, Assistant Professor of Law, Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Founder, The Centrism Movement

Liberia is at a point where we must decide the kind of politics we want. We can continue the old way of politics that is full of insults, bitterness and constant fighting, or we can choose a more thoughtful approach that focuses on unity, development and national progress. The Liberia Political Centrism Movement (LPCM) was created because many of us believe the old way is holding our country back.

Because centrism is different, it has drawn strong reactions. Instead of discussing the ideas, some have chosen to attack my character and question my motives. These attacks have come from Unity Party supporters, CDC supporters and others across the political space.

However, the most intense attacks have come from some individuals within the CDC. They believe that because I previously served with the CDC, I must permanently act and speak only in favor of that party, and must never acknowledge positive actions taken by President Joseph Boakai’s administration, even when those actions are in the national interest. They see any balanced posture as betrayal. But my loyalty has always been to Liberia, not to a party or personality.

Some of the public attacks have been led by:
●Jefferson Chesson, who criticized my emphasis on Liberia focusing on strengthening itself internally.
●Acarous Gray, who argued that my calm approach does not fit his view of what political engagement should look like.
●Wantoe Teah Wantoe, who tried to portray centrism as convenience rather than conviction.
●Isaac Doe, who chose to attack my legal and professional contributions rather than address the ideas I am advancing.

𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝, 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲.

The louder the attacks, the more people are seeking out the message of Centrism for themselves. The more they insult, the more Liberians are saying: we are tired of this old style of politics. We want something better. We want something responsible. We want something that builds and does not destroy.

It is also important to clarify that the Centrism Movement does critique the government, and we will continue to do so whenever necessary. However, our critiques are expressed as professional and constructive recommendations. We do not engage in abusive speech, character assassination or faceless public rants. Our work is rooted in national development, not personal conflict.

Centrism is balance. It is reflection before reaction. It is putting Liberia first. Centrism is for a Liberia that is healing, rebuilding and moving forward.

And while some continue to criticize, thousands of Liberians are steadily joining this movement. Students, professionals, elders, youth leaders, business people and community voices across the country are choosing unity and development over division and chaos. They are choosing the Liberia we can become.

So we will continue. Calmly. Steadily. With patience and clarity. With confidence and principle. Not for applause. But for Liberia.