Bong Joyously Rowdy as Rep Cole Joins CMC -Political Leader Declares Gbarnga Headquarters Office

By Anthony Q.  Jiffan, Jr.

MONROVIA – In the early hours of Saturday, July 5, a jubilant crowd gathered in Bong County’s District #3, as the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) staged what many have described as a political spectacle aimed at energizing its growing base.

The occasion was marked the official reception of the District’s lawmaker, Hon. Marvin Josiah Cole, into the ranks of the fast-growing opposition party. The surprising announcement of his appointment as CMC’s Vice Chair for Operations was made by the party’s political leader, Representative Musa Hassan Bility.

The event drew thousands of supporters and residents, including traditional dancers, and characterized by political chants, and the waving of party flag – something that created a festive atmosphere in the district’s central towns.

Political leader of the CMC, businessman-turned-politician Musa Hassan Bility, made headlines as he formally welcomed Rep. Cole into the party with warm praises and an ambitious declaration of intent for both Bong County and Liberia at large.

“In front of this great crowd and with full confidence in your abilities,” Bility declared to loud cheers, “Honorable Marvin Cole, as political leader of the Citizens Movement for Change, I appoint you as Vice Chair for Operations of the CMC.”

The crowd erupted as Bility handed over a symbolic token of office – the keys to a brand-new pickup truck, a logistical boost signalling Cole’s new responsibilities to lead party’s operations across all fifteen counties of Liberia.

“Don’t worry if you don’t see Representative Cole around here often,” Bility joked to Bility’s supporters.

“He will be leading our nationwide operations from Cape Mount to Maryland.”

The appointment comes as the CMC positions itself as a serious contender in the lead-up to the 2029 general elections, professedly seeking to reshape Liberia’s political landscape with promises of accountability, development, and grassroots empowerment.

Perhaps the most symbolic moment came when Bility declared Bong County the “capital city” of the Citizens Movement for Change.

“Before today, we already had an office here,” he said. “But now, we are making this county the political capital of our movement.”

Bility used the occasion to outline his party’s agenda: focusing on youth empowerment, women’s inclusion, education sponsorship, and infrastructure development.

“We are not here to make empty promises,” he said. “We are here to develop Liberia. And we will start by helping Representative Cole complete the bridge project already underway in his district.”

The event also sparked a friendly inter-county competition, as Bility challenged partisans from Bong and Nimba counties to see which county could bring in the most supporters ahead of the CMC’s official national launch in December.

“We are aiming to recruit 50,000 members by December,” Bility said. “And the more people you bring into this party as a county, the more development we will bring to you.”

The challenge appeared to be well received by supporters from both counties, many of whom had travelled long distances to attend the political rally.

Taking the stage, Hon. Marvin Josiah Cole gave an emotional speech recounting the political struggles that led to his departure from the National Patriotic Party (NPP), a member of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change.

“When I was in trouble and being dragged to the Liberia National Police headquarters, my former party left me. Our chairman who supports the Unity Party abandoned me when I needed the party the most,” Cole said. “But Musa Hassan Bility stood by me.”

He dismissed critics who accused him of party-hopping, saying his allegiance remains with the opposition bloc, just not the ruling Unity Party.

“I can move within the opposition, yes, but I can never join the Unity Party,” he said firmly. “I’ve made my decision today. I am CMC. And I ask all those who believe in me to join this movement for a better Liberia.”

Saturday’s ceremony not only marked a new political chapter for Representative Cole but also signalled a potentially significant shift in the opposition landscape. With Bong County now declared the party’s epicenter, and Cole taking on a leadership role with a nationwide mandate, political analysts are watching closely.

The CMC appears to be building momentum around a message of unity, grassroots participation, and anti-establishment sentiment — themes that have resonated with a growing number of Liberians, especially young voters.

Whether the Citizens Movement for Change can translate these early gains into electoral success remains to be seen, though one thing is certain: the party’s arrival in Bong County has made a strong impression.