GBARNGA – In what many political observers describe as a historic moment, Bong County’s often divided political and opinion leaders have, for the first time in more than twenty years, united in defense of one of their own – Senator Prince K. Moye.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The rare show of solidarity follows scathing remarks made by Nimba County District 7 Representative and opposition presidential hopeful, Musa Hassan Bility, who accused Senator Moye of “doing less for the people of Bong County” despite serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget.
At a groundbreaking ceremony in Gbarnga last week, Rep. Bility took direct aim at Senator Moye, declaring: “Every bridge they build, we will build two more! I challenge Senator Moye, if he builds five miles of road in Bong County, I will build twenty miles. Let him come! Every year we share money. Just last year, in 2024, the Legislature divided 800 million US dollars and Senator Moye was part of that decision.”
The statement, which many Bongese (native of Bong County) saw as disrespectful and politically charged, has sparked an unprecedented wave of unity among the county’s political elite – figures who for years have been at odds across party lines.
Bong County’s political scene has rarely seen harmony. Leaders such as former Liberian Ambassador to the United States Jeremiah Sulunteh, former District 3 lawmaker George Sylvester Mulbah, and several others have often been split – either over allegiance to national parties or over competing visions for Bong’s development.
During the 2023 presidential election, those divisions were clear. Ambassador Sulunteh and Mulbah, both aligned with the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), had opposed the Unity Party ticket led by Joseph Boakai, arguing that Bong already had representation at the national level through then–Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor. Senator Moye, meanwhile, was one of the Unity Party’s strongest campaigners. Yet, this time, all past political rivalries appear to have been buried.
Leading the chorus of condemnation, Ambassador Jeremiah Sulunteh took to Facebook, voicing what many Bongese have described as the county’s collective sentiment: “Absolutely, we will not allow anyone to disrespect us in Bong County in exchange for development.
Ambassador Sulunteh’s statement resonated deeply, symbolizing a broader shift – one where Bong County’s leaders are choosing unity over political division, especially when one of their own comes under fire from outsiders.
David Flomo, a Bong County native based in the United States, also issued a passionate response on social media. “Musa Bility, CMC and supporters’ irresponsible insults, attacks and reckless statements about Senator Moye will be considered attacks on Bong County. We’ll forcefully resist!!”
Flomo added a stern warning: “Rep. Bility isn’t representative from Bong and his insults, attacks, threats and irresponsible comments about Senator. Moye must immediately end.”
What has surprised many is the lineup of individuals joining the defense – including some of Senator Moye’s former critics. Klemani Gbelema, a native of District 4 who has publicly opposed Senator Moye for over 15 years, put aside his differences, declaring, “If he touch ours, we will all touch him. Disrespect to one of us, not only those in leadership, is considered as an ‘aggression to all.’ He must back off or stand down.”
Former lawmaker George Sylvester Mulbah – another long-time political rival – also came to Senator Moye’s defense. “Rep. Bility’s criticism of Senator Moye was out of order. Rep. Bility was on a political showmanship to have come in Bong County and castigated a senator who continues to impact the people of Bong County,” he said.
Religious and community leaders have also weighed in. Bishop Emmanuel Jackson, a respected Bong native, said: “I don’t blame Rep. Bility, I blame Rep. Marvin Cole. He [is] encouraging Rep. Bility to disrespect Bong County Senator. This is why I have serious problem with Bong County people. When will we come together and act like the people of Nimba? We shouldn’t allow outsiders to divide us. Kpelleh is the largest tribe in Liberia. It is time for us to come out with a president or vice president from Bong County.”
Political commentator Peter M. Kerkulah added his voice, describing Rep. Bility’s comments as attention-seeking. “Musa Bility is looking for relevance all over the place and he has gone to the wrong address – Bong County. The Kpelleh people will galvanize all efforts to stop him from disrespecting our leaders. The next time he and his political vampires come up with another unsuccessful political strategy in Bong County, they will be booed in the strongest terms and chased out of there,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Office of Senator Prince K. Moye issued an official statement on Wednesday dismissing Rep. Bility’s accusations as “misleading and politically driven.” According to the statement, Senator Moye’s work as Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget focuses on “ensuring fiscal discipline and equitable allocation of national resources,” not on diverting funds to any single county.
The statement went further to expose what it described as “glaring contradictions” in Rep. Bility’s record, noting that Bong County’s biggest development setback is the failure of China Union – a concession operating in the county – to pay more than US$10 million in social development funds owed since 2015. “These funds were intended for essential community development initiatives such as the construction of roads, schools, health centers, and other public infrastructure,” the statement read.
The Senator’s Office accused Rep. Bility of benefitting from the same concession that has failed Bong County. “Rep. Bility has reportedly benefited from over US$42.7 million generated through petroleum storage facilities he operates in partnership with China Union,” the statement said, adding, “This situation persists because of political interference and protection from individuals like Rep. Bility, who use their influence to shield China Union from fulfilling its financial responsibilities to the people of Bong County.”
The unfolding events mark a watershed in Bong County’s political history. For years, internal rivalries have prevented its leaders from speaking with one voice on key national and local issues. But the defense of Senator Moye appears to have rekindled a spirit of unity and regional pride unseen since the early 2000s. Whether this newfound solidarity will last, remains to be seen. But for now, Bong County – long fragmented by partisanship – has sent a clear message: an attack on one of their own is an attack on the entire county.
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