MONROVIA – Representative Musa Hassan Bility has moved beyond political speculation and formally positioned himself for Liberia’s 2029 presidential contest. His declaration arrives amid growing public debate over governance, accountability, narcotics trafficking, and the direction of national leadership. Speaking on OK FM, the Citizens Movement for Change leader combined personal testimony, electoral calculations, and sharp criticism of the Unity Party administration. His remarks offered insight into how opposition politics may evolve ahead of the next election cycle. More significantly, they highlighted concerns about state capacity, public trust, and institutional performance at a time of heightened national scrutiny, as THE ANALYST reports.
Representative Musa Hassan Bility, political leader of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), has officially declared his intention to contest the Liberian presidency in the October 2029 elections.
Speaking during a wide-ranging interview on OK FM’s The Morning Rush with host Clarence Jackson, Bility made clear that he will not seek re-election to the House of Representatives but will instead pursue the nation’s highest office.
“2029, October, I will be on the ballot, not for representative, as a candidate for president,” Bility announced confidently. “There will be nothing that will change that. There’s nobody who’s running for president in Liberia right now that is better than me, that has a better IQ than me, that has a better output than me, and that can properly articulate the needs and aspirations of this country.”
Bility also identified former President George Manneh Weah and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai as the only political figures he considers peers in the race for national leadership.
“Of course right now the only people I can respond to are former President Weah and President Boakai because they are or will be my contenders for the presidency,” Bility stated. “When they attack me, I will also attack them as well.”
The lawmaker argued that both leaders have already been tested in government and that Liberians are seeking a new generation of leadership capable of delivering fresh ideas and national progress.
“They do not have anything new to add to what the Liberian people want; Liberians are looking for true leadership that will unite our people, bring development and progress for everyone irrespective of who you are,” Bility said.
While expressing openness to political collaboration based on electoral realities and public sentiment, Bility rejected what he termed “bedroom politics” and maintained that the CMC is emerging as a viable alternative for voters seeking change.
Presidential Ambition Takes Center Stage
Bility insisted that his focus is firmly fixed on the presidency and dismissed suggestions that his ambitions could be altered by future political developments.
He portrayed himself as a candidate capable of offering a new national vision, contrasting his leadership aspirations with what he described as an exhausted political establishment. Throughout the interview, he repeatedly emphasized his belief that Liberia’s future depends on leaders willing to challenge conventional thinking and introduce new approaches to governance and development.
The CMC leader further maintained that his confidence is rooted in what he considers a superior understanding of national challenges and solutions, positioning himself as a reform-minded alternative ahead of the next presidential cycle.
Margibi Strategy Driven By Demographics
As part of his presidential strategy, Bility disclosed that he is investing heavily in Margibi County, describing the effort as a calculated move driven by voter demographics rather than family connections.
He outlined what he considers Liberia’s major voting blocs, identifying Margibi as one of the country’s most influential electoral counties alongside Montserrado, Nimba, Bong, and Lofa.
Drawing comparisons to Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe’s political migration to Bomi County, Bility emphasized that his involvement in Margibi is based entirely on electoral calculations.
“I have no such relationship with Margibi. I’m not born there. I have no relative there,” Bility admitted. “I am faithful in Margibi because of what I want to achieve as president of this country. I believe in numbers; Margibi has it.”
To strengthen his presence in the county, Bility said he is financing a high school bridge project and has supplied 500 bags of cement to residents. He further disclosed that heavy equipment is being mobilized to clear land for the construction of a personal residence that will serve as a strategic political base for the CMC.
According to Bility, the planned political infrastructure in Margibi will help establish one of the party’s strongest regional pillars and expand its influence ahead of future elections.
Political Alliances Remain Flexible
Bility also described politics as an arena where permanent alliances and rivalries rarely exist.
Addressing his relationship with Margibi County Senator Emmanuel Nuquay, he indicated that while he is not seeking confrontation, he would vigorously respond to political attacks.
“I’m not interested in fighting Senator Nuquay because our ambitions don’t collide. But I am not afraid of him,” Bility warned. “If he throws one stone at me, I will throw ten stones at him. But also, if our interests align in the future, we will work together.”
The CMC leader also referenced his longstanding relationship with Senator Nathaniel McGill and confirmed that he has reconciled politically with Bong County Senator Prince Moye after both men concluded that their political interests need not conflict.
His comments underscored what he described as a pragmatic approach to politics, where cooperation is possible whenever interests align and competition remains acceptable when they do not.
Personal Tragedy And Drug Crisis
One of the most emotional moments of the interview came when Bility discussed an open letter he wrote to President Boakai concerning the country’s drug crisis and his own family’s experience.
The lawmaker revealed that his son is currently incarcerated on narcotics-related charges, describing the situation as deeply painful but necessary under the law.
“My son is in jail today because he was caught in possession of drugs. He is facing the consequences of his actions. As painful as it is for me, I accept that,” Bility stated.
He argued, however, that his family’s ordeal reflects a much larger national crisis affecting countless Liberian households and accused individuals in positions of authority of failing to adequately confront the problem.
“Where authority is abused, where people in high places allegedly use their positions to protect drug importation, drug trafficking, and drug peddling, their responsibility cannot be ignored,” Bility asserted. “This is no longer just a law enforcement issue. It is a national emergency.”
Bility disclosed that he has not seen his son for more than two years and said the experience has deepened his understanding of the devastating impact of narcotics on Liberian families.
Government’s Response Under Fire
Expanding on the matter, Bility criticized the government’s response to recent narcotics seizures and called for stronger intervention from the highest levels of government.
“There is nothing today affecting the country more than the issue of drugs,” he stated. “By now, at the level of the Ministry of Justice, at the level of the presidency, there should be a statement to the people of this country that what is happening, we have it under control, we are investigating and we will go to the depth of the situation.”
He expressed skepticism about the handling of major drug cases and questioned whether authorities were doing enough to identify and prosecute those responsible for large-scale trafficking operations.
Bility argued that the issue extends beyond the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and requires intervention by the broader national security architecture.
“This is bigger than LDEA and that is why you have the National Security Council, and that is why it is important that the presidency needs to speak to the nation right now and say things are firmly under control,” he said.
The lawmaker further suggested that failures in addressing the drug issue could carry significant political consequences, drawing parallels with criticism directed at the previous administration.
Legislature And Diplomacy Criticized
Toward the conclusion of the interview, Bility criticized members of the Legislature for summoning Eddie Jarwolo, Executive Director of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development (NAYMOTE), over a legislative performance assessment report.
He described the action as an overreach of legislative authority and warned that such conduct risks undermining public confidence in democratic accountability.
Bility also took issue with the government’s handling of comments attributed to European Union Ambassador to Liberia Nona Deprez. He argued that authorities should have responded directly to the substance of the concerns raised rather than focusing on defending political figures.
“Your main interest was to protect your vice president,” Bility asserted. “They’ve made allegations against your vice president, which is serious, and which I believe it is in the vice president’s interest for the government to come back with an organized response and say what the ambassador is saying to people is not true.”
The CMC leader maintained that government officials mishandled the diplomatic dispute and urged the administration to focus on governance challenges and public accountability.
Calling for greater responsiveness from public officials, Bility stressed that constructive citizen engagement remains essential to preserving public confidence in democratic institutions and ensuring that the will of Liberian voters is respected.