The Office of the Presidency was over the weekend in the news lines of the media and social media influencers for the wrong reason amid broken promise as report emerged that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is now riding in a 2025 Lexus LX 700HR Super Ultra Luxury SUV.
The controversy, which has since sparked public outrage, was triggered by a post from popular political activist Martin K. N. Kollie on Friday, March 28, 2025 under the titled: “Opulence.”
In his post that went viral on several social media platforms, particularly Facebook, the former Unity Party (UP) supporter condemned the government for unnecessary display of opulence while millions of Liberians remain jobless and thousands of civil servants struggle with low wages.
“When ex-President George Manneh Weah flaunted his luxurious vehicles, including a Polaris Slingshot, President Boakai was one of his fiercest critics,” Kollie said. “Today, we note with disapproval Boakai’s use of a Lexus Super Ultra SUV. This is opulence, too and we condemn it. This is not modesty. This is public waste,” wrote Kollie on his popular platform.
And as the Executive Mansion – seat of the Liberian presidency is yet to official response to this assertion, the Liberian leader alleged action has been greeted with widespread condemnations. For many Liberians, the President’s alleged action is equated to a broken promise amid his past pledge to “ride a wheelbarrow” to work to save cost for the benefits of the majority.
LCC President Reeves Suspended for Criticizing Boakai’s ‘Action’
And as the debate around the President’s luxury vehicle took the air, one of several key figures, who expressed serious opposition to this act – the President of the Liberia of Churches (LCC) has been suspended for three months.
Rev. Dr. Samuel Reeves, Jr. has been suspended after he publicly criticized President Boakai’s purchase of a luxury Lexus. In a statement that went viral, the suspended LCC President slammed President Boakai of hypocrisy, citing the President’s past pledge to “ride a wheelbarrow” to work to save costs.
“The Liberia Council of Churches is deeply troubled by the recent purchase of a 2025 Lexus reportedly worth over US$400,000 by President Boakai amidst the country’s economic downturn. This extravagance is particularly disturbing given the President’s previous commitment to conserving resources,” read the statement released by Rev. Reeves under the umbrella of LCC.
However, hours after the release of said statement, the LCC disassociated itself with Rev. Reeves’ statement on grounds that their leader acted unilaterally. The other side of the divided LCC pointed out that Rev. Reeves’ action brought the institution into “public disrepute,” thus describing it as “unscriptural.”
According to them, the Holy Bible rather urges Christians to “pray for their leaders, contrary to shamming them as was done by Rev. Reeves. “It is dismaying that Rev. Dr. Reeves had time to embarrass the President but neglected his duty to ensure a leadership transition,” another LCC statement pointed out amid the issuance of a formal apology to the Liberian leader.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
