By Staff Writer/ Feona Benson Kollie
The ignited fire to remove House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa seems to chase deal makers, after the plot backfired and Capitol Building became screenshot as mounting criticisms descended on architects who want a change of status code.
Those calling themselves ‘majority bloc’ in the House of Representatives who hatched the removal deal have been bombarded in and out of Liberia for soliciting bribe to illegally remove Speaker Koffa, after he had left the country to attend ceremonies abroad.
Furious citizens have not held their bitterness against the so-called speaker’s removal plan as they have launched very stern advocacy for U.S. sanctions to be levied against those lawmakers who signed the so-called resolution to oust Speaker Koffa.
U.S. Ambassador Mark Turner was live on OK FM Monday, 21st October, signaling possible imposition of sanctions on signatories to the removal resolution that has sparked agitation amongst Liberians in the midst of so-called fight against corruption in Liberia.
“It is true that some people dished out money to lawmakers to remove the speaker? With the exception of two lawmakers from Nimba, all others signed. Greedy and belly driven politicians. I am hearing about sanctions for those who signed,” Dr. Kadiker Rex Dahn, a Nimbaian residing in U.S.A. noted via Messenger Monday afternoon.
As the campaign against corruption remains a challenge to the Unity Party-led government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, citizens on the average, no matter which side of the political device they lean, the reported USD15, 000.00 being received by lawmakers to sign speaker’s removal resolution has brought a damning reflection on the image of the National Legislature.
Though some of the signatories have reportedly backed off from the plan to remove Speaker Koffa, as display of return of cash through video footage indicates, the advocacy for everyone linked to the resolution to be sanctioned stands unbending.
In the regime of former football icon George Manneh Weah which President Boakai has succeeded, Nimba County longest Senator Prince Y. Johnson and former President Weah’s first Minister of State for Presidential Affairs- Nathaniel McGill and former National Port Authority Managing Director- Bill Tweahway and others were sanctions by the U.S. State Department for bribe. Forcibly, McGill, Tweahway and former Solicitor General Cephus resigned their posts. Public pressure mounted as a sign of protest against corruption government officials by then.
While focus has been directed at those lawmakers involved in the speaker’s removal plot, the governing Unity Party does not seem to be left off the accusation, on grounds that the Executive, as it had been in the regimes of Weah and Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, inducement to control both the Senate and the House of Representatives through leaderships is often suspected.
Meanwhile, following days of power struggle at the House of Representatives amongst members of the 55th National Legislature over plan to remove the Speaker, the embattled Speaker Koffa has decided to find a way forward through dialogue, especially as members of the opposite bloc still remain focused to the removal plan.
Making a special statement Monday at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Speaker Koffa acknowledged the decision of his colleagues but maintained that there is a need for dialogue, emphasizing that he is in agreement with the United States Ambassador that the issue of dialogue is better than confrontation.
He added that the House of Representatives is the home of the people deputies ,stressing that it was very embarrassing to have heard about some negative attitudes being carried out by lawmakers from the first branch of government whom, according to him, should portray good morals than engaging in acts that have the propensity to undermine the image of the House.
Speaker Koffa explained that, as it stands, he is currently carrying out negotiations to ensure the crisis be resolved, and further promised the public that under his leadership, there will be no reoccurrence of what transpired last week among members of the 55th Legislature.
The House Speaker further told the media that every lawmaker has their rights to speak out on issues but maintained that it should be channeled through the proper manner and not confrontation.
He, at the same time, challenged colleagues to see dialogue as a way forward for the betterment of the country.
Last Thursday, the Capitol Building which is host to the House of Representatives was a dramatic scene with some lawmakers seeking the removal of Speaker Koffa while others were against the plan, which accordingly resulted to confrontation among lawmakers and staffers from both sides.
The issue of whether or not the crisis will come to an end or continue will be determined by the holding of Tuesday session today.
The recent crisis at the Capitol Building has also claimed the attention of many, including the United States Ambassador who accordingly has also called for dialogue, maintaining that it is the way forward for the betterment of the country.