Liberia-The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the most recent former ruling party, has suffered volleys of petrifying defections at the highest level since its inception in 2005, this paper has gathered, but those defections according to partisans and other Liberians are less felt compared to the callous and despicable display of ingratitude, deception and disservice by Deputy Speaker, Thomas P. Fallah.
Prior to his deceptive and undermining posture, Fallah who is now expelled from the party was considered one of the greatest heroes and torchbearers of the party’s struggle to change the country’s political dynamics or party politics. Many CDCians regarded him as a formidable embodiment of the values and principles it subscribes to.
His expulsion by the party through its National Executive Committee (NEC) two days ago did not come out of the blue sky, but on the back of his Nicodemus and Judas’s deportment against the very CDC he claimed to have loved and suffered for.
The former stalwart of the CDC is one of several lawmakers, also among them few other CDCians, who ganged up against embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fornati Koffa, also a distinguished ranking member of the former ruling party.
Judging from Fallah’s cunning behavior and con attitude of betraying the CDC at the time he was most needed, political experts and activists say there is strong need that the party takes a very cursive and pensive review of its internal mechanisms, how it goes about its modus operandi ahead of the 2029 elections.
According to them, CDC is vulnerably exposed, and it is likely that other ranking members take advantage of its present precarious standings characterized by internal wrangling, suspicions and unreliability to lick it to the bone.
Embattled Speaker Koffa, holding all things constant, is now largely lame-duck and somehow nominal, completely having no power to push anything owing to the fact the Executive Branch has turned its back on him in favor of the controversially elected Speaker Richard Koon of the ruling Unity Party (UP).
While it is true that their action, allegedly driven by pecuniary incentives, to stand against their own partisan is considered repugnant and against the party’s mandate, Fallah’s involvement in the dethronement of the very man he was next to, is classified as the pinnacle of all defections suffered by the CDC in recent times.
As gathered, Fallah was one of current top-ranking CDCians picked from the dungeon of society, just as Jesus would pick some of his disciples who later became renowned and venerated.
Before the 2005 election, this paper learnt that, he was an active trader of planks at the famous plank field in the Red-light, Paynesville Community, from where the party’s political leader, former President George Manneh Weah “called him from among them,” and purified him to become the outstanding politician he is today.
It is also reported that the expelled Deputy Speaker Fallah was the only CDCian who enjoyed longevity at the National Legislature, winning three consecutive elections as Montserrado County 5th District Representative, with the huge support and backing of the party he is accused of betraying for reasons he is yet to explain.
During the 2003 elections, Deputy Speaker Fallah opted to continue his political sojourn in the House of Representatives, this time representing the people of Foya, his native home, on the ticket of the CDC and eventually won.
As a very well-off personality with good properties in Foya, he was instrumental in CDC’s minimal success at the polls, to some extent, in Foya. He rallied Foya citizens to the cause of the CDC and even became a target for attack during the elections.
Foya witnessed a dangerous elections violence that left someone dead, many other injured and properties destroyed. The Foya violence sparked by allegations of ballot papers being transported by the CDC to Foya to pre-fill ballot boxes.
Under the Speakership of former Representative Bhofal Chambers, Fallah as a ranking member of the CDC was appointed chairman of the House’s illustrious ways, means and finance committee.
The expelled CDC Executive Committee member, a former plank seller, is said to be glowing in wealth resulting from his long stretch of time he has been in the Legislature, and most importantly serving on strategic committees, the latest being ways and means and finance.
Start of Fallah’s con activities
The loss of the CDC at the polls, an infinitesimal margin, to the Unity Party certainly changed Fallah’s political bifocal, according to those close to him.
Commiserated by the fact that the man who beat his standard-bearer and political leader at the polls, current Joseph N. Boakai and him are sons of Foya, Lofa County, Fallah’s attitude towards the CDC started to change in the early days of the current administration.
The expelled CDC stalwart attended the taking over ceremony of Internal Affairs Minister, Francis Nyumalin, in utter defiance of the party’s mandate that restrained officials of the party from attending the ceremony.
The party took the decision in light of Nyumalin’s alleged role in the election fracas that ensued between supporters of the CDC and the UP in Foya, which left one person, said to be CDCian, dead.
The deputy speaker defended his action at the time, arguing that he did so in pursuit of peace and reconciliation, and equally against the backdrop that the Minister is his uncle, someone who and him are of the tribal connection.
But as if his action which was deemed deceptive and a betrayal of the party was not enough, the former CDCian was part of the Lofa legislators who were invited by President Boakai to the Executive Mansion in March of this year, this paper learned.
A photo seen by this paper showed Fallah in a handshake with President Boakai at his Rehab residence almost prostrated, a move many CDCians believed shed light on Fallah’s inner motives.
Also, Fallah reportedly defied the party when it asked its lawmakers at the House of Representatives to back off from the leadership quagmire to remove Speaker Koffa. He and many others who refused to pay heels were suspended.
Reacting to his suspension, Fallah expressed disappointment at the decision and argued that he contributed greatly to the success of the party.
The former CDC ranking member also mentioned his role in the party’s achievement in Foya, Lofa County, the home of the President, in terms of the vote they accrued.
He blatantly rebuffed being classified as a betrayer because he stood with the party in thick and thin.
Just as Fallah, most of ranking members of the CDC hail from Lofa County, compared to other counties, even the county of the political leader.
Political experts believe the CDC is likely to endure more of Fallah-like betrayal and deception as long their kinsman is at the helm of power, who according to them, would use available means, including resources, to lure them to his political side.
According to them, the CDC is just being bamboozled by most of the guys from Lofa to make ends meet, just as Fallah did hugely on the back of the CDC.
“Fallah only used the CDC in a con manner to achieve his political and financial desire, and he has greatly succeeded,” said a political activist, who also urged the party to be a bit methodical in taking decisions at this juncture, to avoid serious political repercussion in years ahead.
Callers on different radio talk shows expressed disappointment in Fallah’s deceptive attitude against the CDC, which they say positions him financially and politically. They said he only wanted to use the CDC to enrich himself at the detriments of ordinary, the foot soldiers, who continue to stand the test of time.
Others called on the CDC to take similar action of expulsion against other partisans siding with the majority bloc against Speaker Koffa. A good number of callers also disagreed with the CDC on the Fallah’s expulsion, arguing the “decision is taken prematurely.”
Fallah Responds To Expulsion
At the same time, expelled Deputy Speaker Fallah has responded to his expulsion by his former party, the CDC, telling journalists that he has decided to move on and is now focusing on his District #1 in Lofa County and his position as Deputy Speaker of the 55th Legislature.
He said he is duly serving the people of Lofa County District #1 and at the same time the Deputy Speaker.
He wished the CDC well. Fallah denied reports that he was making a move to the ruling Unity Party, saying that he remains CDC partisan even though he has been expelled from the party.
“Speculation is not fact. I still remain a partisan as far as I know,” he said, adding that he respects the decision of the CDC, and hopes the party can reverse it.
Fallah noted: “The party made a decision; we hope that they can rethink their decision. We don’t want to go into party’s affair now, all we want to say is that we wish one another well. I’m not sure that we were given due process but that will be discussed in due time.”
Before his expulsion, he, along with other CDC lawmakers, was initially suspended in November for his involvement in the “illegal” removal of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, the party claimed.
CDC said their actions violated its constitution and warranted disciplinary action. Despite the suspension, Fallah continued to pursue Speaker Koffa’s removal, leading to his recent expulsion.
