MONROVIA – Former Mayor of Monrovia and Secretary General of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson T. Koijee, has launched a scathing critique of President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, describing their leadership as a “poisonous snake with two heads.”
By Jenkins Y. Kollie, contributing writer
In a statement released on Sunday, Koijee accused the Boakai-Koung administration of failing the Liberian people and leading the country down a path of hardship, despair, and neglect. However, he also used the moment to offer a message of hope and resilience to the “suffering masses,” assuring them that their condition is not permanent.
“Today, I rise to speak not just to the broken-hearted, the weary, or the frustrated. I rise to speak to everyone who has been pushed to the margins of society, abandoned in darkness, or betrayed by a system that promised hope but delivered hardship.”
Koijee condemned the low salaries paid to members of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), highlighting the stark disparity between what soldiers earn and the costs of luxuries provided to top government appointees.
“Our brave men and women in uniform, who face bullets and brutality, earn a meager US$184 monthly, while Command-Sergeant Majors make just US$440.11. Meanwhile, a single generator assigned to a presidential appointee, Patrick Honnah, costs US$3,622—an amount our soldiers must work six months to collectively earn. A nation that pays more to power than to protectors has declared war on its own defenders.”
He also raised concerns about the country’s ailing healthcare system, referencing past allegations against a health facility associated with Vice President Koung.
“Liberians continue to suffer from a broken healthcare system, and horrifyingly, there are lingering allegations involving ritualistic practices at a facility linked to the Vice President. The silence of this administration in the face of such oppression is a betrayal to our people.”
Koijee pointed to alarming statistics on gender-based violence, specifically rape, citing figures from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection:
“Between January and October 2024, there were 2,759 reported rape cases in Liberia, with 68.7%—approximately 1,902—coming from Montserrado County. On average, nine rape cases were reported daily. These are not just numbers; they are a national crisis.”
Offering encouragement to Liberians, Koijee declared: “Let it be clear: your present situation is not your final destination. I am living proof that one’s current condition is only a chapter, not the conclusion. I was once dismissed and doubted, yet I rose to serve as Mayor of Monrovia. Your story is not over.”
He called on Liberians from all walks of life to rise against what he described as “the curse” of the current leadership:
“It is now clear that Liberia is being led by a dangerous and failed leadership—Boakai and Koung are one poisonous serpent with two heads. We must rise from communities, streets, slums, and ghettos to resist this ‘risky mission.’”
In closing, Koijee vowed to stand with the Liberian people in their continued struggle for justice, dignity, and change:
“We must prepare for the final destination—victory, inspired and owned by the people. I will soon be with you, shoulder to shoulder, defending the soul of our noble country. There is no price too high to pay for Liberia. The struggle continues, but victory will be ours.”
