Monrovia – For over a month, the House of Representatives has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, sparked by a group of lawmakers who issued a resolution calling for the Speaker’s resignation. While these lawmakers initially anticipated securing the required two-thirds majority to oust the Speaker, they ultimately fell short of their goal.
The House is now deeply divided, with one group of 43 lawmakers pushing for the Speaker’s removal, while the opposing side, consisting of 30 members, continues to support him. This impasse has paralyzed the House’s operations.
FrontPage Africa’s reporters visited several electoral districts in Montserrado and Margibi Counties to gather the opinions of constituents on the matter.
Madam Fatu T. Corneh, businesswoman, Kakata, Margibi County: “The fight over the removal of the speaker doesn’t benefit any of us. I think those lawmakers are doing so for their own selfish interests. Don’t forget that most of the same lawmakers that are calling for the removal of Speaker Koffa were the ones who supported him to become speaker just a few months ago. So, what has changed that they are now calling for him to resign from his position? For my representative, he has his own motive best known to himself.”
Willie Jomah, Chairman, Lango Town Community, Kakata: “For the fight at the Lower House is a normal thing; it has been happening even during Madam Sirleaf’s regime. This is Legislative politics and I think is normal, but it is just that it will bring economic situation to the country and its citizens. My lawmaker (Rep. Emmanuel Yarh) is from the CDC background and they ran behind former President Weah to be president and he did not win. He is the same person that joined others to support Hon. Fonati Koffa to be speaker. So, Fonati was the only option he had to help him bring development to his District and maybe Speaker Koffa is not showing that support. I think that could be the reason he has joined his colleagues in removing Speaker Fonati Koffa.”
Emmett Harmon, Money Exchanger, Kakata, Margibi County: “The Speaker removal is challenging for our country now because this is the 9th-day sitting and the Liberian people’s job is not being done. Currently, you have two factions; the majority and the minority—the Majority Bloc is having a session and the Minority Bloc cannot have a session because they cannot get a quorum. At the end of the day it is not helping us—it is affecting us. The Constitution gives the right to those people in the house of parliament when it comes to Legislative functions. Just look at articles 33, 38, and 49. Now see the majority Bloc is doing the Liberian people’s job while the minority is not doing the Liberian people’s business because they cannot get quorum. Today, what is happening is not healthy for the country because the removal of the speaker has made our budget submission come to a standstill. The Executive was supposed to submit the budget on the 31st of October and up till now the budget has not been submitted.”
Abubakar Dukuly, resident, District 17, Mont. County: “It is unfortunate that the decision of the people of district 17 is not being actualized. The lawmaker is yet to consult his constituents on what decision to take; and not only him by other lawmakers. As an individual he has the right to make decisions for himself. But remember we sent him (to represent us). He’s our employee and we are his employers to do our work and represent us at the Capitol Building. So, whenever there are tough decisions, the lawmaker needs to have come to consult his constituents. Unfortunately, Mr. Blue (Bernard Benson) has failed to consult his constituents. He is on his own. So, regarding his decision whether to support the majority bloc or the Speaker, the lawmaker needs to consult his constituents.”
Mohammed Sy, resident, District #8, Montserrado Co.: “While it is true that majority bloc has managed to swiftly succeed in their own scope of legislative operations, it is not an indication that they are proceeding legally. The point here for the nation is for it to be done constitutionally as until that is achieved, Speaker Koffa remains the speaker. But quite frankly current hullabaloo at Capitol Building is not healthy for our democracy. It demonstrates the utter disregard for the rule of law, it undermines the economy by instilling fear into investors, it creates panic and very importantly it places the democracy on the brink of collapse.”
Mohammed Deygbo- Former Students Leader: “The attempt by the so-called majority bloc of the legislature to unconstitutionally remove a sitting speaker is not only devilish but has the proclivity to plunge our country into chaos. This action by our lawmakers is unthinkable and has no benefit on the livelihood of the ordinary citizenry. The way to resolve this debacle is for the 43 lawmakers to return to regular session and at that point they can raise their issues in plenary and ask for the recusal of the speaker. Let them respect the constitution and procedures of the house. The action by those renegade lawmakers is reckless, unproductive and has no constitutional backing. We are totally disappointed in their actions. My advice to the speaker is not to resign as doing so will amount to business as usual. Let the speaker remain in the confines of the law.”
J Theodore M S Nana-Vendor on Randall Street, District 7, Mont. CO: “The news at the Capitol Building is Complete economic sabotage. Removing the Speaker should be done by law because it’s a complete stab in the face of our democracy, a jungle Justice system of politics. We are in a new era. We can’t continue to do the same old thing and expect different results. Because Sen. Alex Tyler And Sen. Edwin Melvin Snow were removed as Speakers of the House of Representatives by political will, but it doesn’t in any way tell us that we should continue on the same path. Everyone makes mistakes but the ability to realize the wrong and correct it makes you a rational person. Go into the market and ask Vendors about the business environment and hear what they will be telling you, everybody is complaining daily about the business climate and the livelihood of a meal. This is the bad practice of our democracy. Let the aggrieved go back to the regular session, and raise their issues before the plenary, if they can obtain 49 Votes then the speaker will do the needful by Law. Those guys seeking the removal of the speaker are selfish and self-centered politicians whose aim is to satisfy their personal gain, a group of lawless people.: Cllr. J Fonati Koffa should stand his ground no matter what comes, the law is the law.”
George P. Carr- former president, Grand Gedeh University Students Association,
University of Liberia: “The situation at the Capitol Building for once again has put democracy on trial wherein the house has been divided into two. Namely, Minority Block and Majority Block. The rule of law has also been put on trial. In this regard, Speaker Fonati Koffa has lost the confidence of his colleagues and there is a need for democracy to be respected. My kind advise to Speaker Koffa is to accept the popular decision of majority of his colleagues by resigning. This is not in any way show his weakness politically, but this is the will of democracy under the rule of law.”
