-Speaker Koffa recommits to stand his ground
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – Amidst ongoing efforts to remove him from office, House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa has vowed to remain relentless in the ongoing tussle, says he is prepared for political death.
Speaker Koffa made the statement Sunday evening, ahead of the House’s aggrieved members’ appointment with Associate Justice Yamie Quigui Gbeisay today. In his statement, Speaker Koffare affirmed his unwavering commitment to the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia. Koffa quoted the oath he took on January 15, 2024, emphasizing his dedication to uphold the principles of governance and defend the nation against all threats.
“I, J. Fonati Koffa, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God,” Koffa stated, reflecting on the gravity of his responsibilities as a public servant.
Koffa’s remarks come at a time when his leadership has faced significant scrutiny and challenges, with some factions within the legislature advocating for his removal. Despite the mounting pressure, Speaker Koffa says, “This is the oath we took, and this is the oath for which we live our political career for. If need be, we are prepared for political death.”
Some 47 members of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature on Thursday, October 17, 2024, read a resolution to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa from his position at the grounds of the Legislature. In the resolution, the legislators cited multiple allegations of misconduct, conflicts of interest, and administrative incompetence.
The resolution references Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution and Rule 9.1 of the House’s Rules and Procedures, which allow for the removal of the Speaker for cause. The resolution accuses Koffa of holding multiple positions as a consultant and lawyer for various government agencies and private companies, including the Liberia Petroleum and Refining Corporation and the Central Bank of Liberia.
The ongoing political crisis in the House of Representatives hasalso flared intense debate in recent weeks and this has also drawn the attention of political commentators and former party members regarding the motivations behind efforts to oust Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. Prominent voices, including political commentator Henry Costa and former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) member Dr. Lester Zomatic Tenny, have weighed in on the situation, offering contrasting perspectives on the dynamics at play.
“A Political Cartel at Work”
Henry Costa, a well-known political commentator, argues that the push to remove Speaker Koffa is not a grassroots movement but rather a power struggle among political elites. He asserts that the motivations behind the campaign to oust Koffa are not about the average Liberian citizen, but rather about the interests of a “political cartel” seeking to protect their wealth and influence.
Costa emphasizes that Koffa, who comes from the opposition, has maintained a responsible and lawful approach to his role as Speaker, working collaboratively with President Joseph NyumaBoakai’s administration. He contends that Boakai does not support the ousting of Koffa, as it would reflect poorly on his administration, especially with the submission of the upcoming budget.
“Joseph Boakai is not your typical politician. Fonati works well with him. Why does he want Fonati out? He does not! He absolutely does not want him out because Fonati Koffa is not a radical, and unreasonable person. He is a speaker who comes from the opposition. Is loyal to his party but at the same time is loyal to his oath as Speaker and he works with the Executive to execute his duties in a way that is responsible, and consistent with law.”
He added, “Joseph Nyuma Boakai was not involved, he never supported it. He is against it. He thinks it embarrasses his administration. He got his budget which is about to be submitted.” Costa claims that the orchestrators of this campaign include factions within both the CDC and the Unity Party that endeavor to destabilize Koffa’s position.
“The fight on Capitol Hill is not about you. It is about them,” Costa states. He emphasized his belief that the motivations for Koffa’s removal are rooted in self-interest rather than public service. “We have a political cartel in this country. Government after government there are individuals in government who would do anything to protect their interest and mass as much wealth at the expense of the people through the national budget [Particularly in this case] to prepare themselves for the next election circle and that is exactly what this fight is about.”
He further posits that many of those seeking to oust the Speaker are fearful of potential repercussions for their alleged involvement in corruption, particularly as Koffa has approved an audit of the House of Representatives. Costa expresses skepticism regarding the success of the ousting efforts and predicts that they will ultimately fail due to a lack of genuine support for the initiative. He points to the current vice president and certain elements within the CDC as masterminds behind the campaign and alleged their ulterior motives.
Tenny’s Counterpoint
In contrast, Dr. Lester Zomatic Tenny, a former member of the CDC, disputes Costa’s claims about the vice president’s involvement. Tenny asserts that the real mastermind behind the attempt to remove Koffa is former President George Weah, who he believes feels threatened by Koffa’s relationship with President Boakai. Tenny suggests that Weah perceives Koffa as positioning himself for a potential presidential run in 2029, which could undermine Weah’s own political aspirations.
Tenny argues that the vice president would have no reason to support a move against Koffa, given their positive working relationship. He believes that such an action would be counterproductive and detrimental to the current administration’s stability. “There is no reason why the vice president would support plans to oust the speaker when he has a good relationship with the president,” Tenny asserts.
Fallah crossover
On Thursday, October 31, 2024, Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah joined colleagues who are seeking to remove the Speaker. In a statement before joining the lawmakers for their legislative engagement in the joint chamber, Deputy Speaker Fallah noted that their concerns represent the majority of lawmakers in the House and cannot be overlooked. “My decision to join the call for resolving this deadlock is not a repudiation of my support for Speaker Koffa or the CDC. Instead, it is a demonstration of my unwavering commitment to our democracy, which must transcend any one individual or faction,” he explained.
However, this decision didn’t go well with many Liberians, as they described him (Fallah)? as a betrayal while some characterized him as “Brutus”. Despite navigating a complex political landscape, Fallah noted, “In my nineteen years with the CDC, I have NEVER betrayed my party, and I do not intend to do so now,” he affirmed.
He clarified that he did not play a part in organizing the lawmakers calling for Speaker Koffa’s removal but felt compelled to listen to their concerns in accordance with the Rules and Procedures of the House and the Liberian Constitution. “It is not a choice against my party or the Speaker, whom I continue to respect and support. I cannot ignore my responsibility to act when the legislative body is at a standstill, and the functioning of the national government is at risk,” he stated.
Fallah urged Speaker Koffa and his colleagues to engage in open dialogue to restore unity within the House. “This is not a time for division or suspicion but a moment for us to reaffirm our shared commitment to the people of Liberia,” he said, calling for collaboration to uphold the principles they are sworn to protect and restore the dignity of the People’s House for the benefit of all Liberians.
CDC Unhappy
In a statement following Fallah’s decision, Janga Kowo, Chairman of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), condemned his actions against Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. Kowoasserted that Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and other CDC lawmakers have disobeyed both the CDC National Executive Committee and President George Manneh Weah, and suggested their behavior has been influenced by the opposition Unity Party (UP) in an attempt to destabilize the CDC.
“The actions of these individuals are clearly orchestrated to undermine our party and its leadership,” Kowo stated. “However, we are confident that these schemes will ultimately fail, and the CDC will emerge stronger than ever.” Kowodescribed the situation as indicative of a broader threat to democracy in Liberia. He expressed concern over what he perceives as an overreaching executive branch that undermines the functions of the legislative and judicial branches, thereby eroding the essential checks and balances that uphold democratic governance.
Kowo further criticized the UP government for its alleged undemocratic practices, citing violations of human rights, disregard for Supreme Court rulings, and arbitrary dismissals of civil servants. He emphasized the need for a national dialogue to enhance the authority of political parties over their elected representatives in the National Legislature, noting that current practices allow legislators to operate with significant autonomy, often to the detriment of party cohesion.
