Former President George Manneh Weah has blamed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his Unity Party government of facilitating the tension that erupted at the Legislature on Thursday, October 17, 2024, over attempts to oust House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa from his position.
It can be recalled that heated tension engulfed the House of Representatives on Thursday with lawmakers at each other’s throats over the removal of Speaker Koffa.
Sources told this paper that prominent current and former members of the House, including Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, Senator Prince Moye and Vice President Jeremiah Koung are against an audit initiated by the Speaker, all of whom served as either Chairman or Co-Chairman of the House’s Ways and Finance Committee and feared that the audit could damage their 2029 election prospects, according to the report.
Several lawmakers, many of whom are members of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) were seen on live videos throwing invectives at each other; their securities and supporters too were seen engaging into fist fights in defense of their respective bosses in the Joint Chambers of the House of Representatives.
Group of lawmakers headed by Representative Frank Saah Foko and Marvin Cole prevented the holding of session presided over by Deputy House Speaker Thomas Fallah, alleging that Fallah had planned to clandestinely remove Koffa from his position.
Representative Foko and Cole said there is evidence in their possession that Deputy Speaker Fallah is dishing out money to lawmakers for the removal of Speaker Koffa. The money is said to be in the tone of US$25,000 for each lawmaker’s signature in favor of the removal.
Both Speaker Koffa and Deputy Speaker Fallah are ranking members of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) headed by former Liberian President, George M. Weah. However, Mr. Weah has since issued a statement over the situation pointing fingers at the Unity Party government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
In a statement issued earlier Thursday while the legislative standoff was still in progress, the former president and Political Leader of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) said the Unity Party-led government under President Boakai was making a concerted and criminal effort to undermine democratic and constitutional institutions by using ill-gotten funds from the National Coffers to influence the unjust removal of the Speaker.
Mr. Weah said this blatant act of political chicanery does not only threaten the integrity of constitutional legislative process but also sets a dangerous precedent for governance in the nation, but made it unequivocally clear that such actions will not be tolerated.
He said the attempt to manipulate the legislative branch for partisan gain is a direct affront to the principles of democracy and the will of the people, adding that Speaker Koffa has served with dedication and integrity, and any effort to remove him illegally under the guise of political expediency is a desperate and cowardly tactic that must be condemned by all who value the rule of law.
“To the members of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Legislative Caucus, I warn and urge you to stand firmly against this insidious plot. Do not allow yourselves to be swayed by pecuniary gains and the siren song of those who seek to destabilize our governance process for their own selfish interests,” he said.
Weah said CDC lawmakers’ participation in this scheme will not only betray the trust of their constituents but will also carry dire significant political consequences for their future within the CDC and in the eyes of the Liberian people, calling on them to remain steadfast in our commitment to democratic principles and the right of the people to choose their leaders without interference. “Let us also remain vigilant and united in our resolve to protect our national institutions and defend the integrity of our democracy,” Weah said.
