SINCE THE RULING Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) took state power following the 2017 general and presidential elections, there is no official of the CDC that has come under criticism than the Mayor of the City of Monrovia, Jefferson T. Koijee.
BEFORE THE CDC ascended to State power, the same Koijee was the leading figure in the opposition CDC. As one of the leading opposition figures during the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf government, he was brutalized by state security and heavily criticized for all organized activities such as protests carried out by the CDC.
AS HEAD of the Youth Wing of the CDC, Koijee was heavily criticized for all the activities of CDC youth and at some point, he was detained at the Monrovia Central Prison.
WHEN THE CDC took power, many had thought Koijee would go for a ministerial job or even work at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs since he has always remained one of the trusted allies of President George Mannah Weah.
KOIJEE OPTED to head the municipal city of Monrovia as City Mayor, distancing himself from major presidential decision-making since he was busy working with donors and getting Monrovia on a better track like other African cities.
MANY PUNDITS had thought that by Koijee keeping himself busy with the work of MCC, public attention would reduce against him, but it seems that has not been the case during the entire six-year of the CDC regime.
KOIJEE CONTINUES to come under the spotlight, with accusing fingers pointed at him for the wrong reasons all the time, raising some questions as to why he continues to be the target of wild allegations.
RECENTLY, Cllr. Jerome Verdier, erstwhile chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC), accused Koijee of being the mastermind of the attack against Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, which led to the death of the daughter of the former Chief Justice.
CLLR. VERDIER accused Koijee of using one of his aides at the MCC to carry out the attack, although initial findings from investigation by the Liberian National Police are yet to establish any truthfulness to the claims by the former TRC chairman against Koijee.
NOW, the major question lingering on the minds of many is why is it always Koijee?
EVEN AN ALLEGED armed robbery attack is linked to Koijee, rival students protest resulting to fighting between students is linked to Koijee. The direct rational for these allegations against Koijee remains a mystery and it is clear that many of these issues are not beneficial to Koijee as an individual or the ruling CDC, as there is no reasons to think why Koijee would be behind these activities for which he has continuously been accused.
PERHAPS KOIJEE’S level of organization within the CDC, where is highly respected as one of the leading figures, could be some of the reasons behind these allegations against him.
WHEN THE CDC was in opposition and the party headquarters abandoned, Koijee had an operational office at the CDC headquarters running the day-to-day affairs of the party without funding. This points to the level of ‘love’ and commitment Koijee brings to the CDC.
TODAY, KOIJEE is very respected amongst the youth of the CDC, the majority constituent grouping of the party, thus making him a target for many who do not want to see another CDC government after the 2023 general and presidential elections.
THE VENOM being meted against Koijee might clearly be one targeted at the ruling CDC with Koijee’s accusers seemingly believing that when he is brought down the CDC will crumble since the youth wing makes up vast majority of the party membership.
SOME LIBERIANS, including Cllr. Veridier, have clearly shown that they do not want another CDC government presiding over Liberia after this year’s elections, and one of the easiest ways to get that done is to bring Koijee down and make him incapable of galvanizing the youthful population in favour of the CDC during the 2023 general and presidential elections.
AHEAD OF THE ELECTION, Koijee might face more allegations from individuals who do not want another CDC regime, all meant to discourage him from playing a lead role during the CDC Campaign.
THE MORE the allegations Koijee might just get afraid of actions from abroad and take a back seat to remove himself from the political limelight, much to the pleasure of the opposition.
IN ALL FAIRNESS, some of the allegations against Koijee appear to be mere make-up as in many instances, there is no reason to fathom why Koijee as a human would want to do some of the things for which he stands accused, especially when these things will yield no dividends for him as an individual or the CDC as a political party.
KOIJEE MIGHT just be an individual suffering negative publicity due to his level of influence within the CDC and also the level of dislike for the CDC from some quarters.