Monrovia — Jefferson T. Koijee, former Mayor of Monrovia and current Secretary-General of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), has declared that recent public admissions by his critics have vindicated him, insisting that the numerous allegations leveled against him during his time in office were false and politically motivated.
Koijee, a staunch CDC member, served as Mayor of Monrovia from 2018 to 2024. His tenure was marked by persistent accusations ranging from administrative misconduct to corruption, allegations he consistently denied. In 2022, he was sanctioned by the Government of the United States, a move that intensified public scrutiny and political debate around his leadership.
Nearly two years after leaving public office, Koijee now claims that several of his former accusers and critics have openly acknowledged that the allegations against him were untrue and formed part of what he described as a coordinated propaganda campaign aimed at damaging his reputation.
According to Koijee, these false accusations not only affected his public image but also contributed directly to his sanctioning by the U.S. government.
In a lengthy personal statement released on Thursday, Koijee portrayed himself as a victim of what he called “malicious and vicious lies and propaganda,” both domestically and internationally. He said his political opponents underestimated his resilience, believing that sustained allegations and rumors would permanently destroy his career.
“They believed that if they talked long enough, loud enough, convincingly enough, the world would turn against me,” Koijee said. “But here I am, still standing, still moving, and that is what disturbs them the most.”
Koijee said he deliberately chose not to engage in public battles to defend himself, opting instead to focus on personal growth, discipline, and long-term goals. He argued that time and truth ultimately exposed what he called the emptiness of the accusations.
“The truth has a strange power; it does not need defending,” he stated, adding that while his critics remained fixated on the past, he was focused on building a future “no lie could touch.”
The CDC Secretary-General further accused the administration of President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung, along with their allies, of allegedly spending significant resources lobbying for his sanctioning. He claimed the effort was intended to politically destroy him but ultimately failed.
“They hoped my name would collapse under manufactured narratives,” Koijee said. “Unfortunately for them, God alone is the author and finisher of my destiny.”
In a broader political jab, Koijee contrasted his personal sanctions with what he described as increasing international pressure on Liberia under the current administration, arguing that the country is now bearing the weight of strained international relations.
Koijee concluded by reaffirming his resolve to remain focused on results rather than retaliation, saying his survival and continued relevance are proof that the campaign against him failed.
“I did not argue with lies; I outgrew them,” he said. “I did not chase revenge; I chased results.”
The statement was copied to several international and regional bodies, including the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Commission, and the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.
