Liberia: Margibi Senator Clashes with Former Lawmakers Over Viral Photo

Margibi County—A political feud has erupted between Margibi County Senator James Emmanuel Nuquay and former Senator Roland C. Kaine, following an attack by Senator Nuquay on some former lawmakers of the county.

 The dispute was triggered by a viral photo circulated on social media, which shows six former Margibi lawmakers standing together, each raising a finger in a show of political solidarity after a recent meeting in the county.

The photo features former Senators Roland C. Kaine, Oscar A. Cooper and Clarice A. Jah as well as former Representatives Stephen S. Kafi and Ballah Zayzay.

During a leadership induction ceremony for the Lango Town Community at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kakata on Sunday, September 21, 2025, Senator Nuquay revealed that he had been sent the controversial photo by an unnamed source. The source, he said, allegedly informed him that the former lawmakers were organizing to block his leadership of Margibi County.

“You cannot remove me,” Senator Nuquay declared, speaking to the crowd. “You pretend to be sand-cutters, claiming you can make people rich can’t make yourself rich, but you can make others rich. You can’t get elected, but you can make someone else elected.”

In a fiery speech, Senator Nuquay labeled the former lawmakers as “political marketers” who were “selling the county’s positions for personal gain instead of fostering true leadership.”

He continued, “The envy and hate won’t help. Trying to portray Margibi as a crab society, where everyone is trying to bring everyone down, will not help us. Stand up and fight for yourself.”

Senator Nuquay went further, commenting on the physical appearance of some of the former lawmakers in the photo, stating, “When I look at that picture, some of them are visibly declining. I doubt if they will even have the energy to say ‘hello’ by 2029. They’re all hungry, scrambling for patrons to fill their bellies.”

He also pointed out one individual in a yellow t-shirt and “dirty” blue jeans, criticizing him for failing the people of Larkayta, despite claims of having served there. “We went there and built a high school,” Nuquay added

The Margibi Senator then cautioned the county’s citizens not to be deceived by the former lawmakers’ efforts to exploit Margibi for personal gain.

In response, Roland C. Kaine, the former  Margibi Senator pictured in the viral photo, defended himself and the group. He clarified that although he was not the official spokesperson for the group, he felt personally attacked by  Senator Nuquay’s insults, particularly because he was the one wearing the yellow t-shirt and blue jeans.

“For Nuquay to insult me as a ‘dirty’ person is unacceptable,”  former Senator Kaine said. “He has crossed the red line. We are all leaders of Margibi County, and we’ve all made significant contributions.”

Former Senator Kaine expressed his disappointment in Senator Nuquay’s choice to use the church pulpit to publicly attack leaders of the county.

He emphasized that while the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kakata may not have instructed Senator Nuquay to make such comments, it was unfortunate that he had used the church as a platform for insults.

“It is disgraceful that Nuquay has chosen to disrespect us in such a manner,” former Senator Kaine said, stressing that, “The church should never be a venue for spreading hate.”

Former Senator Kaine did not hold back in his criticisms of Senator Nuquay, accusing the Margibi Senator of corruption.

“Nuquay is a rogue!,”  the former Margibi Senator alleged.

The former Margibi County Senator added: “I’ve always said it—thievee, thievee, rogue, rogue. Nuquay stole wealth, and that’s what has led to his embarrassment.”

He accused Senator Nuquay of misappropriating public funds, claiming that Senator Nuquay used the money meant for the country’s hospitals to build a house in Weala Town.

The former Margibi County lawmaker also alleged that sanctions were placed on Senator Nuquay by the U.S. Government which resulted in his children being expelled from the country.

“Ask Nuquay where his children are today when they are going to school in America,” former Senator Kaine said.

“See the embarrassment Nuquay has caused for his children. They can’t go back to America because they were kicked out due to his actions,” former Senator Kaine  asserted.  

Former Senator Kaine further stated that he along with other concerned Liberians would soon petition President Joseph Nyuma  Boakai to investigate how Nuquay amassed his wealth, considering that he was not wealthy before entering politics.