Monrovia – Regarded as one of the most popular individuals within the ranks and files of Liberia’s main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the party Youth League Chairman, Jefferson T. Koijee believes that in the midst of economic hardships, suppression and corruption, Liberia can still be a better country.
Koijee who is currently visiting the United States of America in a speech delivered at the Washington and Lee University located in Lexington, Virginia, United States of America said in spite of the harsh situations in Liberia, there is still hope that the country can undergo major reforms and provide for its citizenry.
He told the audience comprising university students and faculty members that some Liberians continue to push the youth generation into bondage.
“This is a dangerous thought for those who seek to keep generations in bondage. And that is what I have been a worry to the warmongers on thrones and a threat to the entrenched kleptocracy”, said Koijee.
Koijee says in the midst of a dollarized-political system compounded by huge economic disparity, his approach in advocating for the development and betterment of Liberia’s youths and underprivileged populace has set him apart as a different kind of political youth leader of Liberia.
Added Koijee: “Today, the dynamics of Youth Leadership in the Liberian body politic has been transformed. No more is the role of a youth leader devoted to holding the bags of the bigwigs. Not this Youth Leader. No more is a youth leader expected to be in the office of the various government officials, to get tips for writing press releases”.
Paying tributes to fallen
Koijee paid tribute to many young Liberians who were in the struggle for change prior to their deaths.
But Jefferson Koijee is just a face. The muscles, bones and organs are those young people in the various ghettoes, slums, hamlets and trenches. Some of them, like myself have been placed in jails for spurious claims.
Some are still incarcerated. Some of them like my late friend and Brother James Gray have fallen to the perils of nature. But a few others are uneasy in their graves.
The ghosts of Morris Kamara, Papie Solo and Boryonnoh Swen remain restless while their oppressors continue to parade and feast on the stolen wealth of the Liberian nation. To bring them rest, I cannot rest”, he vowed.
The CDC Youth League Chairman applauded the University for affording him the opportunity to deliver a speech and vowed that he will keep the courage to fight on.
Predicting CDC 2017 Victory
With general and Presidential elections expected in Liberia in less than a year, the CDC Youth League Chair says he foresees a victory for the CDC in 2017 before expressing gratitude to those who believe that his political advocacy has touched their lives.
Said Koijee: “Even those who do not agree with my political leanings, but accept that I have touched lives, I am also grateful. The future is long. I see a 2017 victory for the CDC as the great moment we have awaited as a nation and we have strived for as a generation”.
Touching on his political sojourn where he has been to prison and molested Koijee said he sees himself as one of the powerless people in Liberia that are accused of crimes and imprisoned without trial.
Continued Koijee: “And, as one of those powerless people accused of a crime, I did not commit and imprisoned without a trial or anything near it. I found myself like some of our forceful advocates from years past, including Rodney Sieh, Charles Gbeyon, Hassan Bility and others, wondering who would stand with me in the face of injustice. I was grateful to those who did and expressed same”.
Koijee is one of the devoted partisans of the CDC and has been playing a key role in pushing for the presidency of George Weah.
The Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts university in Lexington, Virginia, United States. The University consists of three academic units: The College; the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics; and the School of Law.
Today the university has about 2,000 undergraduate students and 315 in the School of Law. Both the undergraduate and law schools are in the first tier of the U.S. News & World Report rankings for national liberal arts colleges and law schools, respectively.
In the 2016 guide, the undergraduate college is ranked number 14 amongst national liberal arts colleges and the law school is ranked number 42nd nationally amongst all law schools.