What Bility Makes of 2nd Speakership Election -Says “Democracy Restored – Rule of Law Wins”

MONROVIA – During the election of House Speaker Richard Koon – before, during and after the showdown – many actors kept their perspectives and emotions out of the public glare. That was not in the case of Nimba County Representative Musa Hassan Bility. He wanted to be heard – what he thought about the exercise before and during as well as after did not remain unsaid. The Analyst pieces together his perspectives into a panorama. 

Before the elections, during the eight months of political crisis in the House of Representatives, the political leader of the Citizen’s Movement for Change (CMC) was a daring front-liner not only a huge strategist for the persecuted Fonati Koffa ‘minority’ side but also someone looking ahead for healing and unity. He became head of the offshoot of the side he supported, tagged “Rule of Law Caucus”. During the elections, he was not a spectator. Not only a voter. He was a candidate. When the elections ended, he did the most political sportsmanship thing, congratulating his opponents, calling for unity, and discouraging those recharging provocative post-election sentiments.    

Statement before voting

Bility wooed his colleagues before polls: “Today we have come to the end of our very difficult seven-month period, and we have an opportunity to restore dignity to the House of Representatives. We have the opportunity to restore ourselves and to reconnect ourselves to the Liberian people.”

As a man of humility and truth, he admitted the lawmakers hold the Liberian people seven months of work, seven months they never held any government agency accountable, seven months they failed to hold their responsibility of oversight.”

He added: “I ask you to give me the opportunity to serve you. Under my leadership of this House, I will serve the interest of the Liberia. I will ensure our fore more responsibility under our constitution which is the Oversight is effectively and properly carry out.”

He assured his fellow lawmakers and the public at large that the culture of Committee be owned by Committee Chair be stopped and that committee members would be effectively part of every decision of committee, as he would ensure that committees would be distributed based on qualifications, while also ensuring all part of their governance system would be consistent with best practice, knowing that they, as a first branch of government, have a duty.

The Nimba lawmaker further promised he would try to reconnect the House to the Liberian people, try to rewrite the contract that we signed on January 15 to protect and defend the constitution of Liberia.

“My colleagues, we are at the very crucial road. We leave from here, sending a message to Liberia that we are ready to move forward, or we are ready to continue on the same old road that choice is yours,” he said.

“And I want you to make that decision knowing that, that decision will affect children, women in the future. Knowing that if we as the people representatives chose a leader that has the vision to carry this House that should affect our country, that should affect our governing system, and that should protect our democracy. That is in your hand, and that is up to you.”

After the Elections

Immediately after polling, and noticing he lost, the CMC political leader, wrote these words on his social media page:

“We lost an election. But democracy has been restored to the House of Representatives. Liberia wins. The rule of law wins”.

Response to ‘Agents Provocateurs”

Bility also had soothing words for those who gave the elections and its results interpretations that he finds divisive and tribally-based.

In order to set the records straight and to calm his base, the Nimba District #7 representative said, in light of the growing public discourse surrounding the recent voting decision made by his colleagues from Nimba County—with the exception of Hon. Taa Wongbe—he feels compelled to address the matter with clarity and respect.

Some had attempted to interpret the outcome through the lenses of tribalism or personal animosity, but Bility said: “I wish to categorically distance myself from such narratives. While I understand the deep emotions that accompany political decisions, I must emphasize that these interpretations do not reflect the broader realities of our political engagements.”

He maintained that his colleagues who supported a different candidate were all members of the Rescue Alliance during the 2023 runoff, and they acted within their rights and according to their political convictions.

“I respect their decision and harbor no ill will. This is the very foundation of democracy—freedom of thought, freedom of association, and freedom of choice,” Bility continued. “We must resist the dangerous temptation to equate political divergence with tribal division. This path leads only to deeper polarization and distracts from our shared goals. We remain united by something far greater than any vote—the unyielding commitment to the progress and development of Nimba County.”

As members of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, he said “we will continue to collaborate, build consensus, and advocate in the best interest of our people. I remain committed to unity, mutual respect, and the collective vision of a stronger, more inclusive Nimba. Let us move forward together.” ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,