House of Representatives Speaker J. Fonati Koffa appears to be losing the battle in maintaining his position amid ongoing plot to have him removed, as the crisis took a dramatic turn on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, when two lawmakers from his Minority Bloc joined the Majority Bloc seeking to oust him.
The joining of the two lawmakers including Montserrado County District #17 Representative Bernard Blue Benson and Gbarpolu County District #1 Representative Zinnah Norman, is bringing the total membership of the Majority to 45.
This number is inches closer to the legally accepted 49 members required to unseat a speaker.
Both lawmakers said their decision to join the Majority was in the best interest of their constituents and not influenced by bribes.
Meanwhile, the Majority Bloc has appointed new leaders and removed others heading key legislative committees. Those voted to be removed are Representative Dixon Seboe and Representative Ellen Attoh Wreh as Chair and Co-Chair on the Ways means, Finance, and Budget Committee.
They mandated the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Liberia, and all commercial banks not to do business with these lawmakers.
Representative Mike Jurry of Maryland County District #1 has been appointed Acting Chair on Ways, Means, and Finance, replacing ousted Representative Dixon Seboe.
In a related development, the Majority Bloc has suspended lawmakers—Montserrado County District #13 Representative Edward P. Flomo, District #14 Representative Abu Kamara, and Bong County District #3 Representative Marvin Cole.
Their decision was based on the lawmakers’ failure to appear before the Investigative Committee Of The Whole for allegations of gross disrespect and public disrepute to the honorable House of Representatives.
The action, according to the majority, is in line with the House’s Standing Rules 48.1 allowing a 30-day suspension of lawmakers that includes forfeiture of salaries and legislative benefits.
The body also appointed Bong County District #2 Representative James Kolleh to serves as Acting Chair on Rules, Order, and Administration, replacing Representative Marvin Cole, while Bong County District#1 Representative Prince Koniah has assumed the position of Acting Co-Chair of the Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, replacing Representative Dorwon Gleekia.
This latest development is coming barely a day after Speaker Koffa told the Majority Bloc that resignation is an optional and a voluntary act and he has no intentions of resigning his position for any reasons.
On last Thursday, November 14, 2024, there were rumors about the resignation of the Speaker Koffa due to pressure from majority members of the House of Representatives.
But addressing a press conference on Monday, November 18, 2024, Speaker Koffa said those calling for him to resign should use their time and resources to convince the so-called Majority Bloc to come to work.
Koffa said he will continue to stand with the Constitution of Liberia as the House’s Standing Rules make it clear that 37 members are needed to elect a speaker and 49 members to remove.
“The day you get your 49 members, I will not spend a day in my office. I will pack my things and leave, but anything other than what the constitution says, I’m not going to resign due to the savage greed of any so-called majority block,” Koffa said.
He said the nonsense at the House of Representatives has to stop because he is unwilling to be pressured to resign as was done to former Speakers Edwin Snowe and J. Alex Tyler.
Speaker Koffa said some members of that honorable body for whatever cause have destroyed the workings of the House of Representatives in their own interest, but said such acts will stop because the law is the law.
By Tonita N. Copson
