Liberia: Liberty Party National Chairman Resigns Amid Reconciliation Efforts

By: Yawah Y. Jaivey

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Monrovia—Musa Hassan Bility has announced his resignation as National Chairman of the Liberty Party (LP) and his withdrawal from membership in the party, effective immediately.
In letter dated September 24, 2024, addressed to the party’s National Executive Committee, Bility reflected on his three and a half years of leadership, describing the experience as ‘both rewarding and complex’.
Bility boasted that his tenure has been marked by significant achievements, including amendments to the LP Constitution that fostered inclusive decision-making and the party’s collaboration with other political entities during the 2023 Presidential and General Elections.

Monrovia—Musa Hassan Bility has announced his resignation as National Chairman of the Liberty Party (LP) and his withdrawal from membership in the party, effective immediately.
In letter dated September 24, 2024, addressed to the party’s National Executive Committee, Bility reflected on his three and a half years of leadership, describing the experience as ‘both rewarding and complex’.
Bility boasted that his tenure has been marked by significant achievements, including amendments to the LP Constitution that fostered inclusive decision-making and the party’s collaboration with other political entities during the 2023 Presidential and General Elections.

However, his leadership was also challenged by backlash from opposition factions regarding these changes and the party’s support for opposition candidate Alexander Cummings.

“As we embark on a reconciliation process, it has become clear that some concessions being sought are fundamentally against my core beliefs regarding the leadership qualities necessary for our nation’s growth,” Bility stated.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining the LP’s vision and values but indicated that he could not support the new direction proposed during the reconciliation process.

Having been a member of the Liberty Party since its inception, Bility expressed pride in the progress made, despite the challenges faced.
He affirmed his commitment to his district as the Representative of Nimba County, District 7, while opting for non-traditional avenues to contribute to Liberia’s political landscape.

“I wish the LP well in its future endeavors,” Bility concluded, thanking the party’s leadership and members for their support throughout his time as National Chairman.

Rep. Bility’s letter resignation letter in full

Liberty Party National Executive Committee
Monrovia, Liberia

September 24, 2024

RE: Resignation Letter of Musa Hassan Bility – Liberty Party National Chairman

Dear Fellow EC Members:

Greetings, and I hope this letter meets you all in good health. It is with a heavy heart that I today announce my resignation as National Chairman of the Liberty Party (LP) and withdraw my membership from LP. The last three and a half years have been the most satisfying, complex, and challenging adventure of my political career. It has been an incredible privilege to lead the LP National Executive Committee (NEC), and I have been blessed to have been a part of a group of people bound together by a commitment to build a political institution rooted in the principles of inclusive decision-making, democracy, and the rule of law.

During this period, we have experienced great highs, most notably the amendments to the LP Constitution that brought about an environment of inclusive and consultative decision-making and working together to form a part of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) during the just-ended 2023 Presidential and General Elections. We have also weathered numerous storms because of opposition to these very changes we brought about to the Constitution and our decision to support opposition presidential candidate, Mr. Alexander Cummings, in the 2023 elections.

In an effort to recalibrate, LP recently embarked on an important phase of reconciliation, a necessary process given what the Party has been through over the past three years. As with any reconciliation process, certain concessions had to be made by all sides at the table. However, I also believe that it is equally as important, in a political environment such as ours, characterized by competing definitions of nationalism and patriotism, that the LP’s vision, values, and actions reflect leadership qualities critical to our nation’s future growth and development. As we go through the reconciliation process, and in my consultations with the broader Party membership, it has become abundantly clear that some of the concessions being sought to achieve reconciliation are fundamentally against my core belief of what is needed to continue to build a vibrant political institution and prepare for national leadership and I cannot, in good conscience, endorse the new direction that is being proposed. Albeit, standing firm in my belief in democratic systems, I also cannot and will not allow my personal beliefs to stand in the way of the reconciliation process. Consequently, faced with this juxtaposing dichotomy, it has become necessary to hand over the baton to those who champion this new direction and allow them the space to chart the future course of LP.

The LP is the first and only Political Party that I have been a member of. I am extremely proud of the changes we have been able to bring about in the Party over the past three years, albeit the tenuous road we had to travel to get there. Although I have affiliated with members of other political parties in Liberia in the past, I never sought or took membership in any political party because their vision for Liberia and expression of core values did not align with mine. My decision to join the LP came after several conversations and interactions with LP’s Founder and Vision Bearer, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, about his hopes and dreams for the Party, which aligned with mine. At this juncture, I am of the belief that my continued contributions to charting a pathway to the Liberia we all aspire to have will be more effectively carried out through different and non-traditional mediums. I still hold the same opinion about the political parties within our current dispensation, and therefore, I will not seek or take membership in any of them. Rather, I will continue my political journey through the office I now hold as Representative of Nimba County, District 7, and other political and developmental action vehicles.

I sincerely wish the LP well in these endeavors. Thank you again to the leadership and broader LP family for the support during my tenure as National Chairman.

Regards,
Signed: __
Musa Hassan Bility
National Chairman

Cc:LP National Advisory Council
LP County Committees

Credit: Rep. Musa Hassan Bility’s Facebook page.