“President Boakai Did Not Ask Speaker Koffa To Resign” – Press Secretary Clarifies By: Julius Konton

Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana has termed as speculations, claim that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai told embattled Speaker, J. Fonati Koffa to resign for the sake of peace. Making the clarification at a special Executive Mansion press briefing, Madam Fofana stated that the government does not run its activities based on speculations or public perceptions. According to her, the Liberian leader is a law-abiding citizen and respects procedures and activities surrounding the law. She told Executive Mansion reporters that since the impasse at the House of Representatives, the President has been consulting his legal team of experts regarding the situation but at no time has he called, invited or instructed the Speaker to resign. Observing the situation which has lasted for over a month, Madam Fofana stressed that the President was concerned about seeing the country being held hostage due to the impasse; as such, he has asked his legal team to advise him on how to proceed.  The latest proceedings, she pointed out among other things, led to the Justice Minister and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh’s comprehensive opinion on the recent Supreme Court ruling which was made known to the public.  ” The President is proceeding through the legal means and professional advice given him by his team of legal experts,” the Presidential Press Secretary re-emphasized.  The legal advice now seeks the ongoing discussions of the national budget as well as the latest extension of the sitting of the Legislature to January 2025 in order to discuss in details, the national budget and other key issues of national concerns.

However, the embattled speaker has alleged that the majority bloc continues to violate  the laws that they have enacted, even though it has been interpreted by the highest arbiter of the land- the Supreme Court as its constitutional duties only because, they (majority bloc members allegedly) are enjoying the comfort of the Executive.  He, at the same, disclosed repeatedly to the Executive that the rule of law must prevail; warning the Executive to refrain from, in his words, complicating treasonous plot. Meanwhile, the Presidential Press Secretary has stated that President Boakai has expressed serious concern about the prolong closure of the State-run University of Liberia. According to her, the designated team of educators is working on the issue to have it addressed soon. “President Boakai is very close to announcing a new President of the University of Liberia,” she disclosed.  The Liberian leader, she noted; as an educator, is also interested as part of his ARREST AGENDA to empower his people especially the young population through education and other capacity development initiatives.