CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – In a dramatic and unprecedented scene at the Liberian House of Representatives, police officers, acting on the orders of Rep. Richard Nagbe Koon, forcefully opened the vehicle of Rep. Yekeh Kolubah using a drill. This incident highlights the ongoing leadership crisis within the House.
The confrontation occurred after Rep. Kolubah, a supporter of the opposing Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, parked his vehicle in the Speaker’s designated parking space—a space traditionally used by Koffa but now contested by Koon. This act was seen as a deliberate challenge to Koon’s claim to the speakership.
Koon, who was controversially declared Speaker by a Majority Bloc of lawmakers, ordered the police to remove the vehicle. The police then used a drill to unlock the car, an action that drew immediate criticism from the Rule of Law Caucus, a group of lawmakers supporting Koffa.
The Rule of Law Caucus condemned Koon’s use of force, calling it a dangerous precedent. They argue that Koon’s leadership is illegitimate and have called for him to step down, citing recent comments from Associate Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, who described the Majority Bloc’s actions as exceeding their legal authority.
This incident underscores the deep divisions within the House of Representatives and the unresolved nature of the leadership crisis. The Majority Bloc, backed by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, continues to assert its control, while the Rule of Law Caucus maintains its support for Speaker Koffa. The situation remains tense, with no clear resolution in sight.
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