Monrovia – Former Monrovia City Mayor and Secretary General of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson T. Koijee, says recent public admissions by supporters of the ruling Unity Party have vindicated his long-held claim that he was the target of a coordinated political campaign aimed at destroying his reputation and influence.
In a lengthy personal reflection posted on his Facebook page, Koijee portrayed himself as a victim of political persecution whose rise from poverty to national prominence unsettled Liberia’s political establishment and ultimately contributed to his sanctioning by the United States.
The former mayor, who served during the administration of former President George Manneh Weah, described his journey from the slums of Montserrado to the leadership of Monrovia City as evidence of what he called a God-given calling to serve ordinary Liberians.
“My gift may have become my crime in the eyes of men, but in the sight of God, it remains my calling,” Koijee wrote.
His comments come amid growing political debate following public statements by some Unity Party loyalists who have claimed credit for helping shape public perceptions that contributed to the CDC’s electoral defeat in 2023 and the sanctioning of some senior officials of the former government.
Several members of the Weah administration, including Koijee, were sanctioned by the United States government on allegations linked to corruption and abuse of public office. The sanctions became a major issue during the 2023 presidential campaign and were frequently cited by opposition figures as evidence of governance failures under the CDC-led administration.
However, Koijee now argues that recent admissions by political opponents have reinforced his belief that he was deliberately targeted because of his political influence and connection with grassroots supporters.
“For nearly twelve years under the Unity Party government and the presidency of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, I endured slander, mischaracterization, persecution, and repeated incarceration,” he wrote. “My crime was never corruption or violence. My crime was connection.”
The CDC stalwart maintained that his popularity among young people and marginalized communities made him a threat to political rivals who were uncomfortable with his growing influence.
According to him, efforts to undermine his reputation intensified after he became Mayor of Monrovia, a position he notes he assumed as one of the youngest individuals ever to lead the capital city.
“When I later became Mayor, I became an even greater irritation to entrenched arrogance,” Koijee stated. “To them, it was difficult to accept that someone they considered a nobody, someone who grew up in the slums, could rise to become the chief administrator of the capital city.”
Koijee alleged that years of sustained attacks and misinformation eventually culminated in sanctions being imposed on him despite what he described as the absence of evidence against him.
“They launched continuous campaigns of defamation, which eventually led to sanctions being placed on me without a single proven piece of evidence,” he said.
The former mayor also used the statement to underscore his resilience, saying that despite the sanctions, he has continued his academic pursuits and international travel opportunities.
“God has remained faithful,” he wrote. “Even under sanctions, He has opened doors for me to travel abroad and continue my academic journey.”
Throughout the reflection, Koijee repeatedly invoked faith and scripture, arguing that history would ultimately determine the truth behind the allegations and political battles that have defined much of his public life.
“I do not claim to be perfect,” he acknowledged. “But I remain grounded in faith. I believe that purpose is greater than persecution, and that God’s judgment is greater than human opinion.”
As the CDC continues its transition from governing party to opposition force following former President Weah’s narrow electoral defeat to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Koijee remains one of the party’s most visible and outspoken figures.
His latest statement signals that the debate over the sanctions, the 2023 election campaign, and the political legacy of the CDC administration is far from over.
For Koijee, recent comments by political opponents have not only reignited those discussions but, in his view, provided confirmation that the campaign against him was politically motivated.
“History will separate truth from propaganda,” he wrote. “Time will distinguish accusation from evidence.”
