Liberia-From the look of things, Liberia is teetering on the axis of a national crisis as a result of the unfolding developments on Capitol Hill, particularly at the House of Representatives, regarding the removal of House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa by a group of rebellious Representatives acting under the canopy of Majority Bloc, political analysts have indicated.
The crescendo of the situation which has been existing over the last three weeks with no sigh of relief is a reported city-wide protest against the rebellious lawmakers accused of stalling the functions of the national legislature, and so much so stifling and stagnating the work of the entire Government.
The situation, if remains as fragile as it is, with the rebellious or majority bloc insisting the Speaker’s removal, analysts believe it could degenerate into an apocalyptic protest that is likely to spawn complete chaos and lead to shutdown of the entire government.
The country has been in the throes of tension since reports emerged that a group of lawmakers, numbering about 47, signed a resolution for the removal of the Speaker who is the head of the First Branch of government, on barrage of allegations including corruption, conflict of interest, undermining the functions of the committees and overly leaning towards the Executive Branch or the President.
It is widely circulated that they received whooping US$15,000 per person in bribe as inducement to facilitate and lubricate the process for the dethronement of Speaker Koffa, who is just ten months in the position, having been elected in January prior to the January 22 inauguration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The rebellious Representatives comprising both members of the ruling Unity Party, Congress for Democratic Change of which the Speaker is a part and independents, have refused to sit under the gavel of the Speaker and have blatantly chosen to hold Session in the Joint Chambers of the Capitol while Speaker Koffa, with a minatory members, is using the Regular Chambers but with no required quorum to conduct business on many occasions.
Calls for them to return to status quo or proceed through the legal process of removing Speaker have been falling on stony grounds as they – concerned majority bloc members – continue to trek the path so germane to their decide to remove the Speaker (forced him to resign) by and through the use of the political means.
The concerned lawmakers have so far flaunted complete disobedience against the orders of the Supreme Court of Liberia through the Justice-In-Chambers that they stay off their actions, pending a conference on November 4, 2024.
The Court’s decision stemmed from a Prohibition prayed for by some members of the Speaker Koffa Bloc, that the highest court play a stay order on all activities of the aggrieved bloc.
Citizens taking seize of the matter
In light of the stalemate the commotion is having on the functions of government, Liberians are showing signs of determination to take seize of the matter since it borders on their lives as well and the entire wellbeing of the country.
Information in different corridors speak of plans by some citizens to stage serious street protest aimed at compelling the agitating lawmakers to resort to the use of the law to remove the speaker, rather than adopting political tactics in pursuit of their agenda to get the Speaker out.
There are reports that different advocacy, political and student groups are receiving support from all and sundry to stage a protest in support of the law, to prevail on the belligerent lawmakers not to compromise or circumvent the law of the Republic in the exercise of the issue at hand- the removal of the Speaker.
According to the report, the action is to compel to agitating lawmakers use the legal means to remove the speaker instead of trekking the political line, which they believe is a complete contradiction and contravention of the laws, mainly the Constitution.
