By Abraham K. Morris, Contributor
A major political fight that ensued between Bong County Senator Prince K. Moye and Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa H. Bility has unearthed problems with how money and business are controlled in government.
A political expert described the feud as a “proxy war” over public funds, setting up a huge battle for the 2029 general and presidential elections.
Sen. Moye, who controls the national budget in the Senate as Chairman of Ways, Means Finance and Development Planning Committee, said the Chinese mining company, China Union, owes Bong County over US$10 million in community development funds since 2015.
Moye’s comment hard hit at Bility, accusing the opposition CMC leader and businessman, of personally blocking that payment.
Moye claimed Rep. Bility has “benefited from over US$42.7 million” through his private company, (SRIMEX) partnership with China Union.
Moye argued that Bility is profiting, while Bong County suffers, therefore, he welcomes Rep. Bility’s construction of more bridges in the county, as it is “the county’s money.”
The two leaders are also fighting over a new government policy to change fuel storage fees.
Moye and Margibi County Senator, James Emmanuel Nuquay, pushed the policy in the Legislature to collect US$16.6 million a year for the government.
Moye said “US$1.9 million of this money is urgently needed to buy life-saving drugs for people with HIV and TB, due to cuts in foreign aid.”
Rep. Bility, who owns Srimex, had however, strongly opposed the change. He claims the government is trying to destroy Liberian businesses to create a monopoly.
Bility started the fight by attacking Moye’s performance in Bong County. However, the move backfired. For the first time in over 20 years, political rivals in the county (from different parties), put their differences aside and united to defend Sen. Moye against Bility, who they considered an “outsider” from Nimba County.
Folks in Bility’s CMC have confirmed the feud between the two lawmakers, is now leading to a major election, officially declaring that the CMC will put up a candidate, preferably, Representative Josiah Marvin Cole against Moye for the county senate seat in 2029.
Rep. Bility owns a major company that his colleagues have oversight through the committee he chairs.
The government has reportedly failed for eight years to collect the US$10 million debt from China Union.
Political analysts are urging the government to immediately collect the “US$10 million debt,” and create stronger laws to prevent legislators or powerful officials, who own major companies from serving on powerful financial committees.