Monrovia – Liberia’s umbrella body for musicians is in turmoil. The Musicians Union of Liberia (MULIB) is embroiled in a deepening leadership crisis that has paralyzed its activities, divided its National Executive Committee, and left the Union with two men laying claim to one of its most strategic offices – Secretary General.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
There is a complete misunderstanding among members of the leadership over governance, constitutional interpretation, and administrative procedure, a rift that has now spilled into the public domain.
Documents and internal executive chats obtained by FrontPage Africa (FPA)News Paper show a breakdown in cohesion that has led to counter decisions, accusations of constitutional violations and confusion among the general membership.
The flashpoint is the resignation and later attempted return of the Union’s elected Secretary General, Zubin L. Cooper.
According to official communications, Cooper tendered his resignation on June 24 in a message addressed to MULIB President Mustapha A.B. Swaray.
In that message, posted in the MULIB Executive Chat, Cooper wrote: “This decision has not been made lightly. However, after careful consideration, I have concluded that, due to increasing professional and personal scheduling commitments, I am no longer able to dedicate the time and attention required to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the office as prescribed by the Union’s constitution and governing framework.”
He also cited concerns about limited progress on key initiatives.
But in a dramatic twist on July 23, Cooper wrote to the National Executive Committee to withdraw his resignation, saying he had reorganized his commitments and was now able to fully serve.”
Since submitting my resignation, I have taken the opportunity to carefully reassess my professional and personal commitments. I am now in a position to fully dedicate the time, energy, and attention required to effectively discharge the duties and responsibilities of the office of Secretary General.”
The reversal came too late. Two days later, on July 25, President Swaray, in an Independence Day message to the MULIB family, announced the appointment of Alfred Gabriel Flomo, alias Legendary Super 7, as Acting Secretary General effective immediately.
“This appointment became necessary following the resignation of the former Secretary General, Zubin Cooper, due to his busy schedule which could no longer permit him to effectively handle the affairs of the Union. In view of the strategic nature of this office, the position could not remain vacant for a long period,” Swaray wrote.
That appointment has now set the stage for a constitutional showdown.
In a detailed response to FPA on September 15, the embattled Secretary General has pushed back, denying that he ever formally resigned.
Cooper argues that what is being treated as official resignation and withdrawal letters are merely WhatsApp messages with no legal standing.
“What is being referred to as ‘documents’ showing my resignation are, in fact, WhatsApp messages and not official; signed, stamped, or notarized communications. Under Liberian law and standard administrative practice, a resignation from a position of this nature requires a formal written communication, not an informal electronic exchange,” he pointed out.
“In that WhatsApp conversation, I stated an intention to resign and indicated I would follow up with a formal written letter, as administrative procedure and, separately, common Ministry of Labor practice would require. That formal letter was never submitted.”
He applied the same argument to his withdrawal: “I did not withdraw a resignation, because none was ever submitted. There is nothing to withdraw. What I did was signal my intention not to follow through with my earlier stated intention to resign.”
Cooper is also challenging the legality of the Acting Secretary General appointment. He contends that the MULIB Constitution and Bylaws (2025, notarized) only provides for interim appointments on the Board of Directors under Article 9.2.2(e) and has no comparable provision for the National Executive Committee.
He noted that under Article 9.3.1, the Secretary General is an elected officer, and under Article 7, replacement can only be done through a National Congress process.
“My status remains that of the duly elected Secretary General of MULIB,” he insisted, asking the leadership to cite the specific provision relied upon.
The second front of the crisis involves allegations that Cooper abused his office to front for non-members to obtain Liberian Service Passports.
At issue is a June 14, 2026 letter to the Director General of the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) requesting Service Passports for a MULIB delegation to an Independence Day Cultural Celebration in Europe.
The delegation listed included Mr. Joseph Junior Teah – Vice President for Operations, Joseph S. Kemoh (J Boy De Prophet) and Houstin S. Gblah (Double H), an artist manager.
Critics alleged Cooper attempted to secure a Service Passport for Double H, a non-member.
Cooper denied fronting, saying the request was centered on J Boy De Prophet, a member, who was traveling with his manager, which he described as standard practice.
He said the letter emanated from his office as mandated by Articles 9.4 and 10.4 of the Constitution, which gives the Secretary General responsibility for official correspondence and public relations, with the President duly copied.
He, however, admitted that Double H was not a registered, dues-paying member at the time.
“Double H was not, at that time, a registered, dues-paying member in the Union’s formal records,” Cooper asserted.
“This needs context, however: the current leadership took office roughly a year and a half ago, and in that time no new membership drive has been conducted.
On the specific paralysis, Cooper blamed a minority within the Executive for failing to adhere to the Constitution:
“The Union has effectively been at a standstill since the elections — not because of anything I have done, but because certain members, the same ones taking WhatsApp messages to the press as though they were official documents, have failed to adhere to the Union’s rules and Constitution… cherry-picking individual sections and combining them in ways that produce interpretations the document was never intended to support.”
He rejected the label that he is embattled, claiming the majority of members still recognize him.
“I am not embattled. The majority of MULIB’s members recognize me as the Secretary General they elected and voted into office,” he noted, adding he is willing to sit with anyone but warned that continued constitutional violations would force the Executive Committee to issue votes of no confidence and call a National Congress to resolve the matter.
As it stands, the Union risks operating with two Secretariats, with Flomo acting on the authority of a presidential appointment and Cooper holding onto his elected mandate.
There is a reported call for an emergency National Executive Committee meeting and possible intervention by the Board of Directors to avert a total collapse ahead of key programs for Liberian musicians.
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