THE ELECTION of Richard Nagbe Koon as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, following the resignation of J. Fonati Koffa, brings formal closure to a deeply unsettling chapter in the country’s political journey.
BUT WHILE the leadership vacuum has now been filled, the constitutional wounds remain fresh — and the odor of hypocrisy continues to linger in the halls of power.
LET US BE unequivocal that Koon, the so-called “Majority Bloc,” and elements within the Executive were fully aware that his initial claim to the Speakership was illegitimate.
THE SUPREME COURT’S April 23 ruling merely confirmed what legal experts had argued for months — Koon’s assumption of the role violated both the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
THAT did not stop him.
WITH AUDACITY and calculation, Koon and his allies attempted to sidestep constitutional norms, distort public perception, and insult the intelligence of the Liberian people.
WHAT WE witnessed was not democratic leadership — it was an orchestrated campaign to institutionalize impunity under the guise of majority rule.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH BOAKAI’S role in this saga is equally troubling. His poorly judged response to the Court’s ruling only heightened suspicions of Executive complicity. Instead of defending the rule of law, the President appeared to endorse an illegitimate process, thereby encouraging those bent on weakening institutional safeguards.
LET US BE clear that Koffa, too, is no beacon of ethical leadership. In a healthier democracy, many of those dominating our Legislature would never hold office. Yet, in the eyes of the law, it was Koffa — not Koon — who held legitimate authority until his resignation.
AND NOW, in a twist of irony, Koon has secured the Speakership through the very legal process he previously defied. The turnaround is as galling as it is revealing.
THE SAME INDIVIDUALS who praised his unlawful ascension are now hailing his lawful victory. This is not principle — it is opportunism. Where is the accountability? Where is the remorse?
AT THE CENTER of this crisis lies a national mindset that continues to equate power with righteousness. The belief that “might makes right” remains entrenched in Liberian political culture. We are a nation in desperate need of civic reawakening and psychological renewal.
STILL, ONE TRUTH stands firm that resistance works. The constitution was defended — not by the political elite, but by civil society, the judiciary, and a vigilant public unwilling to let impunity go unchallenged. For all the damage done, the law held.
NOW, WITH A duly elected Speaker in place, the hard work begins. This is not just about healing a fractured House — it’s about restoring faith in a legislative body that has become synonymous with partisanship, dysfunction, and betrayal of public trust.
THIS MOMENT must be more than a procedural correction. It must be a moral reset — a commitment to values, to accountability, and to the Constitution that binds us all. Anything less would be another betrayal.
MAY THIS be the last chapter of chaos —and the first of courage.
