“Leniency On UP Gov’t Is Over”; CDC-COP’s New Chairman Declares
The newly elected Chairman of the Congress for Democratic Change-Council of Patriots (CDC-COP), Foday N. Massaquoi, says he will champion the need to democratically and legally pressure the ruling Unity Party administration to address the socio-economic issues confronting the citizens.
Massaquoi made the remarks following his election as National Chairman of the CDC-COP during the group’s Special Convention, held Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Sinje Town, Grand Cape Mount County.
The event was held under the theme, “Rallying the Nation Through Robust Patriotic Actions for Liberia’s Redemption”, and brought together scores of delegates from six (6) counties: Grand Bassa, Bong, Margibi, Grand Cape Mount (host), Bomi and Montserrado.
Massaquoi was announced winner for the chairmanship over his opponent Joshua S. Karr by the ad-hoc elections commission Chairperson, Maminah Gorlon Carry. Other elected officials of the CDC-COP at the convention are Aaron Koffa Chea, Vice Chair for Administration; Mark Johnson, Vice Chair for Operations; Augustine P. Outland, Vice Chair for Mobilization; Aloysious Klah Benson Jr., Vice Chair for Programs & Planning; Henry Da Silva Tabla, Vice Chair for International Affairs; Archie Tarnel Harris, National Secretary General; Lassana Fanta Kromah, Deputy Secretary for Administration; Oliver Z. Worozorouah, Deputy Secretary for Records and Research; Javis Emmanuel Kollie, Public Relations Officer; Abraham T. Sherman, Treasurer; and Augustus Jozzie Fahnbulleh, Chaplain.
In his acceptance speech, Massaquoi emphasized that his election is not about him, but the struggle ahead—the fight for the soul of the nation and the unwavering belief that Liberia is dying and needing a redeemer.
“The time for leniency is over,” he stated. He called on the opposition community to rise and forge a united front, claiming that Liberia is under siege.
According to him, the Boakai-Koung administration has failed on every front, noting that the regime has led citizens into perilous times.
“Recent reports reveal that nearly 45% of Liberians experienced theft in 2024, and a staggering 28% were victims of assault—the highest assault rate globally,” he stated.
Massaquoi further claimed that the economy is collapsing and the people are suffering, thus securing a daily meal has become an achievement for citizens.
He further criticized the Unity Party government for running one nation with two speakers at the National Legislature. Massaquoi identified embattled House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa as legitimate, while terming Representative Richard Nagbe Koon, elected Speaker of the majority members of the House, as an un-Constitutional Speaker. “Koon is nothing more than a toy boy to Jeremiah K. Koung (the Vice President). This is not governance—it is organized incompetence,” he stated.
According to him, the CDC-COP, which he described as Liberia’s foremost civil rights political movement, sees the impasse at the House of Representatives as a contradiction.
He underscored the need for the citizens to rise up to the occasion to confront the system, and urged Liberians to stand up, mobilize, and be the voice of the oppressed in their communities.