CMC Deepens Grassroots Politics in G’ Gedeh -Bility Rallies for Development over Transactional Politics

MONROVIA – At a time when Liberia’s political culture remains dominated by election-cycle patronage, episodic outreach, and transactional promises, the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) is attempting to redraw the contours of opposition politics. By taking its citizens’ engagement tour deep into Grand Gedeh County—far from Monrovia’s familiar political circuits—CMC Political Leader Musa Hassan Bility is positioning his party not merely as an electoral vehicle, but as a development-oriented movement anchored in early engagement, civic responsibility, and measurable action. According CMC officials, the tour, marked by cultural reception, blunt political messaging, and explicit commitments to infrastructure, education, and social services, reflects a deliberate effort to challenge how Liberians relate to power, leadership, and accountability long before ballots are cast. The analyst reports. 

The Political Leader of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), Musa Hassan Bility, on January 30, 2026, led a high-powered delegation of his party into Grand Gedeh County as part of a citizens’ engagement tour aimed at explaining the development agenda of Liberia’s newest political party and deepening its grassroots presence.

Launching the tour in Senewien and Gbo/Plo Administrative Districts, the CMC delegation arrived in Plo Town to a vibrant and symbolic welcome, complete with masked dancers, cultural performances, and elders adorned in traditional regalia. In keeping with local custom, traditional leaders presented white enameled bowls of kola nuts as a sign of acceptance and goodwill.

Among members of the delegation were Grand Gedeh County District #3 Representative Jacob Debee, former Bomi County Senator Sando Dazoe Johnson, former Nimba County District #8 lawmaker Larry Younquoi, CMC Vice Chairman for Political, Legal, and Governance Reforms Wadei Powell, and several other senior party officials.

“We Are Here for Development” – Bility

Addressing elders upon his formal welcome in Plo Town, Mr. Bility emphasized that the CMC’s presence was driven by development concerns rather than political spectacle.

“We are here to look at your challenges,” Bility said. “We don’t replace government. We are here to do the things that— not just this government, but governments after governments—have not been able to do for the people. This party is a development party, and that is why we are here to introduce CMC to the people of Grand Gedeh.”

Following traditional courtesies and greetings, the delegation proceeded to the town hall, where residents gathered in large numbers to engage the visiting political leader.

Representative Debee Highlights Roads Crisis

Explaining the rationale for inviting the CMC to Plo Town, District #3 lawmaker Jacob Debee said the visit was tied to commitments he made during his campaign to change the development trajectory of the district.

“When I came to you, I said please elect me so we can change our district. You trusted me and gave me your votes. I won Senewien and Plo in District #3 because of you. Because you did it, I must help you too. My connection must be able to help you. So, my connection today has brought somebody who is one of the finest sons of Liberia – a politician that is a humanitarian, not just that, but an advocate, someone who wants the best for you. So, today our purpose here is to help. I have spoken with him, and he has seen your needs. I have told him, and again I am saying it, that this community needs to be connected to the rest of the county.

“For almost 30 years, Honorable Bility, vehicles have not gone this way. For almost 30 years, those in that place have not been able to ride cars. It was just recently they started riding motorbike. We used to walk there. Today, I want you to help me. I want you to join me. I want you to not only appreciate him but thank God first for giving us the opportunity to see him, to know him. And because God has helped us to know him, God will help him with the money to be able to do the work. And this is for development. No politics can stop this development from going on. This development is a people-oriented project. You want it. Do not allow any government politics to stop it. Don’t allow that to happen. Let’s work together. Let’s push. Let’s pray for him. Let’s support him to help us.

He disclosed that residents, in anticipation of the visit, had mobilized their own limited resources to begin road work, including seeking access to earth-moving equipment.

“When you are drowning, even straw can help you,” Debee said, urging residents to support development efforts beyond partisan politics.

Voting, Responsibility, and National Reform

Taking the podium, Mr. Bility challenged citizens to rethink how they exercise political power, particularly through voting.

“I want to assure you that I am aware as a politician, that if you leave election ahead and make a promise, then you know that if you come during election time, if you don’t fulfill that promise, then you have to hold yourself responsible. But if you fulfill that promise, then in fact you feel entitled. You can tell the people, you owe me something because I have done something.

“In Liberia, the Liberian people are too nice. Every day you are crediting politicians, and they can’t pay you. I remember one time I was travelling, and we landed at Robertsfield and the carousel was damaged. Then a lady looked at me and said this is a lawmaker here. They are the ones who spoiled the country. Normally, I would just walk away, but time I said no. I called her attention and said, young lady, the lawmakers that are sitting in Capitol Building, did they carry themselves there? Aren’t you the citizens who can stand in the rain to vote for them?

“We are our own problem. The people of District 3 should not be asking an individual to fix this road for them. It is your right. Your country is making enough money to fix this road for you with no problem. But you’ve taken one step and that one step is to elect a good representative. But Jacob knows because he and I sit in the House of Representatives. He knows that you can have a good representative, or two or three among 73 representatives, the only thing you will know is that every time your representative comes home, his voice will sound hoarse because he will talk till he is tired. When the majority gets ready, they will vote the way they want to vote.

“There is only one way to fix this country. The only way to fix this country is to elect a president that knows exactly what is wrong with the country. There is no other way around this. You must ask yourself: why am I voting for this president or that president? I am not going to answer it for you. Ask yourself and give yourself an honest answer. If you believe in your answer, go and vote for the president of your choice and wait for the result.

“So, we are here to introduce the CMC to you as your development partner. Many politicians in Liberia don’t believe that what we are doing is the right thing. They are asking us, why are you going too soon? Why can’t you wait for 2029? Just go the people, change some Liberian dollars, anywhere you go, give them some money. But you cannot blame them because that is what you have them used to doing. That’s what you made them believe is the right thing to do. The man who comes here and gives you a good plan, many Liberians will not look at that person. But when they come and change US$100 and splash it around, then the people will chant ‘awo-say, awo-say’. When elections are over, the same people start to get vexed with those they voted for. Everywhere in Liberia, as soon as they vote for a candidate, they start to insult them after three months. Something must be wrong with yourself. Think, sit down and analyze.

“CMC will come back here in 2029. We will not come back with promises. We will come back to say, we have come back. We are the ones who did this or that project. We are a people-centered party, and we want you to join us. No insulting government officials, no insulting our opponents. We just want you to give us the chance. And we are saying to you, for you to believe what we are saying, some of what you want us to do, we will do it now.

“Our programs as a party are not limited to roads or bridges. We have the women; Mrs. Bility is here. The women should not feel forgotten. Mrs. Bility has her own program, where we will do women empowerment to help the women. For us as a party, we want you to come and join us. Our party doesn’t believe in tribalism, no war, no hate. We don’t have too much time to go explain what happened yesterday. We are looking to the future. We want everybody to have a chance. We are not holding you for what you did yesterday. But when you come to us, we are telling you to commit to a new way going forward. Everybody has a chance. We don’t stigmatize our members. We don’t care which party you come from. We don’t care your affiliation; all we know you are a Liberian and you need to give yourself an opportunity for a new beginning. That’s what the CMC is about.

“So, we have come here today to assure you Honorable Deebe that your success is our success. We want the rest of Grand Gedeh to believe us, and we use District Three as an example that when we say it, we do it. When I come in 2029, if this road is fixed then it means you owe me. If the road is not fixed then I will come stand here and call you to come so I speak to you people, if you come to listen to me, then it means something is wrong with you. Because you are not supposed to even listen to me.

“Let this be a beginning for Liberia. Let us begin to make every politician that comes here commit and do what they promised. Don’t ever listen to promises again. You want to be president, show your mark. Most of the people who want to be president 2029, they had the opportunity before. When they come back to you, just ask them since you want our vote again, what did you do with the one that we gave you? Because myself I will be showing you what I did with the few years I have been around you. All of us must show our marks. Stop voting for people because they come and lie to you. Let’s create a new Liberia. Let’s build a Liberia where the man from Nimba can live as they are doing now in Grand Gedeh without any problem. The people in Grand Gedeh can go to Bomi and live there in peace and harmony. Let us develop our women strength. Let the children go to school.

Policy Commitments: Education, Health, Women

Bility outlined CMC’s core policy commitments, including free education from primary through high school, free primary healthcare, women empowerment initiatives led by Mrs. Bility, and reforms to reduce the cost of governance.

“Liberia has money,” he insisted. “It is about allocation and discipline.”

He pledged that under a CMC government, ministers would no longer receive government-purchased vehicles, redirecting savings toward social services.

“When you give CMC authority, our first commitment to the people of Liberia is that from the beginning of school all the way to high school, nobody will pay school fees in the whole of Liberia.  And some people will come behind and say the man is talking, but where will he get the money from? I will explain how we will get the money to fund free education for our children. The cars that we can buy come from the taxpayers’ money. The gasoline that we buy comes from the taxpayers’ money. We will put together all the free, free money. Under the CMC government when we make you minister; we will give you license plate then you will go and find your own car and go do the Liberian people’s work, because your pay will allow you to get a car note to get your car. That is what happens everywhere. Let’s educate our children, let primary healthcare be free. Let the women deliver safely under good condition. Let people go to the hospital for malaria, for headache, fever, and don’t have to pay any money. Let the woman go to the farm, cultivate her rice, and come and feed her children without worrying about taking that same money to pay children school fees.

“It is possible. Liberia has money now. It’s just how we can allocate it so that everybody can have some. We can have peace, we can have education, we can have transparency in our community. Honorable Deebe, the leadership of the town, our elders, I want to say thank you for giving us this opportunity. Pray for us. The next time you see us on this road, in this town, we will be coming to inspect the work that will be going on here. Thank you very much,” CMC Political Leader Bility said to tumultuous applause from the audience.

“We are our own problem,” he said. “The lawmakers sitting in the Capitol did not carry themselves there. Citizens voted for them.”

He argued that Liberia’s development failures are rooted not only in leadership deficits but also in a political culture that rewards unfulfilled promises.

“There is only one way to fix this country,” Bility said. “Elect a president who understands what is wrong with Liberia.”

He criticized vote-buying practices and urged communities to demand results, not gifts.

“CMC will not come in 2029 with promises,” he said. “We will come to show what we already did.”

Tour Concluded in Zwedru

The engagement tour concluded in Zwedru, where Mr. Bility and his entourage received a large public reception. The event culminated in a ceremonial gowning of the CMC political leader, symbolizing community acceptance and rising political interest.

Party officials described the Grand Gedeh visit as a critical step in building a people-centered political alternative grounded in accountability, early engagement, and measurable development outcomes.