-Morlu Slams Koon
Monrovia, Liberia – Richard Koon’s recent pledge of US$20 million in the 2026 budget for the JFK Medical Center has been labeled as a “brazen, false attempt to buy legitimacy” by Mulbah K. Morlu Jr., former Chairman of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and current Chairperson of STAND. Morlu, a prominent political figure, has accused Koon of exploiting Liberia’s healthcare crisis to extend his “illegitimate speakership” under the administration of President Joseph Boakai.
In a statement, Morlu dismissed Koon’s promise as a calculated political maneuver rather than genuine leadership. “Koon’s plan is simple but deceptive: make unattainable promises at JFK, stretch the duration of his illegitimate speakership, and hope the people forget his illegitimacy by 2026,” Morlu asserted. “But we are not deceived, Koon. You’re not the Speaker; not even US$20 million can make you one.”
Morlu emphasized that Liberia’s healthcare system, which is in dire need of reform, cannot be salvaged by what he described as “political bribes disguised as goodwill.” He argued that leadership requires integrity and transparency, qualities he believes Koon lacks. “Leadership is not deception, and legitimacy cannot be bought,” Morlu declared.
The former CDC chairman also criticized President Boakai for what he called “reckless defiance” of the Supreme Court, accusing the administration of emboldening Koon’s “fraudulent tactics.” According to Morlu, this has only deepened Liberia’s governance crisis. However, he expressed confidence in the power of the people to reclaim their democracy. “The power belongs to the people, and soon, they will rise at the Capitol, no longer fooled by empty promises, to restore true leadership,” he said.
Morlu called for a comprehensive overhaul of Liberia’s healthcare system, stressing that the crisis demands more than superficial solutions. “Liberia’s healthcare system needs a rebirth, not the chicanery of a man clinging to power by exploiting the people’s suffering,” he stated. He further mocked Koon’s attempts to project authority, saying, “You’re free to walk around in a suit all day, with endless bodyguards, but your suit and tie do not bestow dignity, nor do your words command respect. You are not a Speaker—not even a ‘Regime Speaker.’ You are a disgraced lawmaker, a puppet of a weak and absent-minded president who has ceded control of governance to gangsters and a corrupt cabal.”
Morlu concluded his statement with a rallying cry for change, asserting that no amount of bribery, threats, or force can halt the momentum of a people determined to reclaim their rights. “History will remember when the people rise and reclaim their House, demanding change sooner rather than later,” he said. “No bribe, threat, or force will ever stop the unstoppable power of an idea whose time has come.”
He expressed hope for a revitalized healthcare system, one that would be supported by genuine resources rather than what he termed Koon’s “deceitful US$20 million offer.” Morlu added, “You might witness it, maybe even vote for it, but you will never hold the position of Speaker to make it a reality. You are illegitimate and a ‘regime’ man, not someone for the people. So how could you possibly care about the people, Richard, the Rogue Speaker?”
