Monrovia– It is nothing but au revoir as Cllr. J. Fornati Koffa finally threw in the towel Monday, resigning his position as Speaker of the House of Representatives following a troubling leadership impasse that left the Lower House of the National Legislature completely fractured, bruised and two-chambered for about six months.
Koffa along with his supporters, a loyal group of Representatives representing different political and social backgrounds, fought tooth and nail in defense of the “rule of law” when his position came under attack by group of fellow Representatives who chose the path of opposition to his leadership on allegations of corruption, bringing to House to disrepute among others.
He said he fought a good fight and it was time that he let go for the sake of others who are suffering as a result of the impasse.
Former Speaker Koffa officially tendered his resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature, mainly for what he called “Executive’s refusal to honor a Supreme Court ruling” and the “shifting political tide as reasons.”
In his resignation letter addressed to Chief Clerk, MedridSayon, the former said Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah will become presiding officer and acting Speaker until a new speaker is elected.
“Please inform the members of my resignation from the Office of Speaker effective 12 noon today,” he inserted in his letter in keeping with keeping with the Constitution and “our rules.”
The former Speaker later told journalists that despite his legal victory shrouded in the Supreme Court ruling, the situation dramatically changed when President Joseph Boakai said he would work with the legislative majority bloc. From that moment, he emphasized that he is isolating.
Koffa said the rules of the game shifted when the President said he would revert to his original posture to work with the majority bloc so we had to reassess our participation.
According to him “after the caucus evaluated the situation, we saw the continued presence of armed reinforcements at the Capitol. Our choice was either to return and risk another round of violence, or to step away. We chose the latter.”
More so, former Speaker Koffa indicated resigning as speaker has nothing to do with coercion or financial inducement, but rather a “strategic move to prevent further legislative instability and potential violence.”
“If money were the motive, it would have made more sense before the ruling,” he said. “We endured six to seven months without salaries or benefits. There has been no exchange of money only the legitimate compensation owed to my colleagues.”
“If I wanted to take money before I resign, this is not the best time. It is not as valuable as it was before the ruling. Before the Supreme Court ruling,” he went on saying.
“We sat down here for 7 months without salaries and benefits, and no gas, then I heard people accusing me of taking money. You only see Fonati Koffa, but you do not see the people standing behind him, the former Speaker added.
Cllr. Koffa asserted: “I can’t negotiate the law. If I resign, that’s the legal process, a vacancy is created, and a new Speaker must be elected.”
He also noted others who are not seen are enduring the brunt of the leadership impasse. “You see Fonati Koffa, but you don’t see the 60 employees who’ve gone unpaid for six months. How long could I ask them to hold on?” he asked. “Especially after we began losing some of our most committed members following the President’s statement.”
Former Speaker Koffa reiterated his commitment to the rule of law and called for the election of a new Speaker in accordance with the Constitution and the House’s rules.
He was elected Speaker in January 2024 few days to the inauguration of President Joseph Boakai who is accused of being behind the Koffa’s oust as Speaker in favor of his partisan, Rep. Richard Koon.
The leadership impasse at the House started October last year when group of Representatives acting under the appellation of Majority Bloc signed a resolution to remove him while he was away with President Boakai in Rome, Italy.
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