Africa-Press – Liberia. Nimba County District 7 Representative Musa H. Bility, former chairman of the Collaborating Political Parties and former embattled Chairman of the Liberty Party, now heads a new political party.
Nimba County Distrct #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility has been elected on a white ballot to head the newly established Citizens Movement for Change (CMC).
Rep. Bility was elected on a white ballot alongside Mr. James M.V. Yogee, who was elected Chairman, and Mr. Wilfred Bangura, who was elected secretary General.
The new CMC leadership was elected at the party’s first convention held in Saclepea, Nimba County on Friday, February 28. The convention brought together an array of prominent opposition figures who showed up to support the CMC on its new political journey.
Inducting the new CMC leadership on Saturday, March 1, human rights lawyer Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe called on the CMC to be the difference that Liberia needs, especially given that the country is facing a quagmire wherein when a new government comes to power, promising to right the wrongs of the past, it always ends up repeating those same mistakes.
“What kind of country is this, where one government comes to power, promising to right the wrongs of the past, only to repeat those very same mistakes? What kind of country is this where, under the guise of leadership, we violate international law and human dignity? We cannot continue to operate in a nation that ignores the very principles upon which it is supposed to stand. This is why we need a new kind of leadership, a leadership that will respect the rule of law, uphold human rights, and lead with dignity, not ignorance and arrogance. The time for change is now! Let us stop pretending that these are small issues. They are huge. They are the very issues that keep families perpetually in a state of abject poverty and make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to break free from the chains of poverty. Liberia needs a leadership that will change the current direction of Liberia toward progress and prosperity. I want to ask you, my fellow Liberians —when will we stop this madness? When will we decide that our future is worth more than the comfort of a few?
“Liberia cannot continue down the same path of neglect. We need to invest in our children, in our schools, in our healthcare system, food production, infrastructure and in our future. Let’s rise up! Let’s demand better governance! We need to change the mindset that has held us back for so long. Let us build a Liberia where no one is above the law, where corruption is rooted out, and where justice is for all-not just for the rich and influential, the elites. A better Liberia is possible, but it will not come with the same leaders, the same practices, or the same mindset. We must make tough choices during election time.
“We need a leader who understands that Liberia’s future is in the hands of its people and that the only way forward is good leadership. More than that we need a national crusade of all well-meaning Liberians beyond party lines to change the direction of Liberia for the better. The time to act is now. We need a new Liberia—a country where every child has an opportunity to thrive, where there is hope for the future generations of Liberia and where the government is no longer a place to steal, but a place to serve. Let’s build the Liberia we deserve! Together, we can make it happen! Can we? I want an answer! Can we? Can we? Yes indeed, we can!” Cllr. Gongloe said.
Addressing the delegates and the audience, newly inducted Political Leader Bility said the CMC is a people-focused political party that is here to make a difference, not an election-time political institution that has come for mere posturing.
“Today is not just another day. Today is the beginning of something new. Today, we gather not just to form another political party, not just to add another name to the long list of parties that come and go with election cycles. Today, we launch a movement—one that belongs to the people, one that will stand with the people every single day, whether in government or in opposition.
“For 30 years, I have walked the path of politics, fighting to make things right, pushing for a better Liberia, trying to convince those in power to lead with vision and responsibility. I have given my time, my energy, my ideas, and my heart to this country. But I have come to realize that true change cannot come from the top unless the people own it, demand it, and drive it forward themselves. That is why we are here today,” CMC Political Leader and Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility said.
“For too long, Liberia’s economy has been structured for the benefit of a few while the majority struggle to survive. Our resources are abundant, yet our people remain poor. Our country is rich in natural wealth, yet our hospitals, schools, and roads are in decay.
Gracing the auspicious occasion, Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Korlubah assured the people of Nimba County and the nation at large that he will work with the CMC to ensure an opposition victory because the ruling establishment has failed the Liberian people, therefore, any candidate that is supported by the government in these byelections and subsequent elections will be a disservice to the people of Nimba County and the Liberian people.
“Liberia will be better when we all come together, because our problem in this country is about ourselves; it’s not about a leader. Some people here right now are happy because they have their people in government, or because they are getting small, small eating. Yesterday, the other people were happy the same way. Are we going to live like this: where when your interest is there then everything is ok? Some of you people thought I was never going to criticize Mr. Boakai because I went to counties to bring them to power. But if you can criticize your son in your house, he will do better. But some of our mothers here when we go out and we do wrong, everything we do is right. At that point they are leading us to spoil. When we spoil, that means our mothers and fathers made us spoil, because when we do the wrong thing they will say it is right. But it is wrong for everybody.
“I am not criticizing because I want to criticize. I am criticizing because when we said yesterday, former President Weah was riding a private jet, but the Joseph Boakai I brought to power is riding a private jet from here to go to Lofa County. So, you people didn’t talk yesterday when the former President Weah government was having some shortcomings because you people were enjoying it. But I will speak, because people in Saclepea saw me when I was passing to go with my convoy, and spent my own money to bring him to power because we thought the wrong of yesterday was going to be made right today. I have no regret voting against former President Weah. But the people I brought to power will regret why I had to vote for them and campaign for them.
Also speaking for a brief moment with the media in Saclepea, Representative Josiah Marvin Cole of District #3 in Bong County said his presence in Saclepea did not mean was now a member of the CMC, and he was there to show solidarity to his Rule of Law Caucus brother, Musa Hassan Bility. “So, basically, we support the idea of the CMC. We encourage Musa Hassan Bility and all the members of the CMC to continue.
Speaking further on his reason for supporting the launch of Bility’s CMC, Rep. Cole said his presence in Saclepea has become a cause for concern with Nimbaians and even his people from Bong County. “We are all in Nimba County, Saclepea. We came to support our colleague Musa Hassan Bility. My understanding is he is having the first national convention of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC). The whole country and other political leaders are concerned about why I am wearing the CMC party T-shirt. I have not officially joined the CMC. We have come as members of the Rule of Law Caucus to support Musa Bility because he is our chairman. It’s good to come and support your people on these kinds of occasions. So, whatever will help the Liberian people, we will also be supportive of those kinds of ideas. If the need arises to join, we are going to make a full disclosure of our intent to join the CMC.
“In the county, across the country, we have a commanding lead in the Bong County politics. Anybody who won with around 20,000 votes, you are a determining factor in any election in the Republic of Liberia. But I can tell you, I support the opposition, and we will be supporting the opposition candidate in Nimba County that will be a winnable candidate,” Rep. Cole said.
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