MONROVIA – To the hundreds or perhaps thousands of partisans who had gathered at the headquarters of the ruling Unity Party Saturday, December 6, the dedication of the official offices of the party, from which it was thrown out for inability to pay rent at the time, the moment of a defiant and unapologetic display of resilience and commitment to party. But the ever-alert Musa Hasan Bility, it was a short of arrogance and misplaced priority. In a scathing critique of the event, the Nimba County District #7 Representative and Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) Political Leader condemned the Unity Party’s dedication of its new headquarters, describing it as a “show of arrogance” and a display of corruption. In a statement reacting to what the ruling party fanatics described as a “Green Day” or “Homecoming Day”, Bility criticized the Unity Party for prioritizing the construction of party headquarters over addressing pressing national issues such as quality education, healthcare, and support for women and children. The Analyst reports.
“A ruling party that does not concern itself with raising money for quality education and healthcare, support to women and children, drug addiction programs, clean environments, and so many other ills of society, is a ruling party without a heart, passion, empathy, or sympathy for its own people.”
Those are words by vocal opposition politician Hassan Bility as he provided a near-spontaneous response to the earth-shattering gathering of the ruling Unity Party which last Saturday dedicated its new headquarters in Congo Town.
The CMC leader accused the Unity Party of flaunting its newfound wealth, which he claimed was acquired through control of the nation’s resources.
He described the event as a “lavish party to raise millions of dollars for party headquarters around the country,” and questioned the party’s priorities.
Bility expressed confidence that the Liberian people are watching and will make a decision in 2029 that will bring about change.
He reaffirmed the CMC’s commitment to good governance, transparency, and transforming the lives of Liberians.
In a statement, Bility declared: “Today we witnessed a repetition of what this country has suffered through for the last eight years. Massive political rallies. Lavish fundraising shows. Old political parties displaying their self-proclaimed might and rewarding the loyalty of the people who elected them with shallow performances. The arrogance of political influence and power on full display.”
He continued: “Going deep into national coffers, pulling out money, and splashing it on flashy programs that have absolutely no positive impact to the Liberian people. Hosting events with no substance – no real purpose – just a show of ego and a demonstration of artificial political strength through rented crowds and staged popularities.”
Bility observed that despite these endless rallies and shows of strength, there has been no real change in the lives of the Liberian people or in their daily struggle.
“We have watched the national budget rise, only to see a corresponding rise in the wasteful expenditure of a government that was elected on the promise to make people’s lives better,” he said, adding: “Today, the Unity Party, through government functionaries and heads of entities whose institutions contribute little or nothing to the real economy, but whose spending has dramatically increased, held a lavish party to raise millions of dollars for party headquarters around the country.”
According to him, there can be no greater act that accurately displays where the Unity Party’s priorities lie.
“A ruling party that does not concern itself with raising money for quality education and healthcare, support to women and children, drug addiction programs, clean environments, and so many other ills of society, is a ruling party without a heart, passion, empathy, or sympathy for its own people,” he said. “It is a party with no vision.”
He stressed that crowds and rallies without purpose have and will never change the lives of Liberians.
“Only development can do that. Only strong governance systems can do that. Only prioritizing the needs of the people can do that. Today, Liberians witnessed the Unity Party’s show of arrogance,” he noted.
Bility said the UP’s parade of the newfound wealth that only two years ago, before assuming power, it did not have.
“Today they flaunted this wealth because they now control the nation’s resources. Today they splashed money under the guise of raising millions of dollars to own a headquarter that they could not even pay rent for three years ago. It is a shame and a brazen and arrogant display of the corruption that plagues our nation and deprives our people from decent living.”
He concluded: “As the CMC watches the ‘jolly-jolly’ displays, we know that we must continue to focus on planning and executing an agenda that will bring about good governance and transparency.
“As we watch these shenanigans, we are even more energized to remain focused on the welfare and transformation in the lives of the Liberian people – on what we intend to do for them and how we intend to do it. As we watch the deception, we are even more convinced that the path we have set upon must be travelled in order to deliver the Liberian people.”