MONROVIA, Montserrado – President George Weah has declared today, Nov. 22, a day of national mourning for the fallen political leader of the opposition Liberty Party, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, 68.

Brumskine died late Wednesday, Nov. 21 in the United States following a period of protracted illness.

In an official Facebook post late Thursday, Weah disclosed having received the sad news from the Brumskine family.

“I expressed my deepest condolences on behalf of the government and people of Liberia for the loss of Counselor Brumskine – who was a devoted public servant, a legal luminary and a champion of social justice and civil liberties. Counselor Brumskine played a critical role in shaping our democracy for the better; and his death has left a deep void in our body politics,” he said.

“As we join the bereaved family in mourning the death of Counselor Brumskine, and as a token of our appreciation for his immense contributions to nation-building; I hereby declare tomorrow Friday, November 22nd – a national day of mourning to be observed across government; and that the national flag be flown at half-staff at all government institutions for the day.”

The president termed Brumskine’s passing as “a defining moment for the country, and a time of national healing”, urging all Liberians to rally together in unity as the nation mourns the loss of a ‘decorated public servant.’

According to an Executive Mansion release, the president also described the deceased as a “fine Liberian patriot and a man of peace who preached ‘Liberianism’ for far too long.”

“I had the privilege to interact with the late Cllr. Brumskine on many occasions. Despite the lake of politics which consistently divided us, we both respected and admired each other. He, particularly as a big brother sharing Bassa affinity, wanted the best out of me; his many counsels and overtures I shall never forget,” the release quoted the president.

“There is no gainsaying about the fact that Liberia has lost a great fighter, who would never settle down unless the right and legal thing was done. He put Liberia first. He made peace and ordered his political badge.”

History, President Weah noted, will remember Brumskine as a principled politician whose tenacity and wisdom as a lawyer and humanitarian helped save Liberia from many odd events. Liberia will miss this great hero and progressive son of our time,” he averred.

The two men had, on numerous occasions, faced each other in the political arena for the Liberian presidency. But there seemed no particular antagonism between them unique to African politics.

The outpouring of grief from across Liberia and its diaspora confirms the president’s sentiments, that indeed “Liberia misses this great hero and progressive son of our time.”

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah