The six-month leadership crisis in the House of Representatives is over. Representatives of Montserrado County District 12 were responsible for his primary opponent, Musa Hassan Bariti (Nimba, District #7). Vice-chairman, Rep. Thomas P. Farrah, was expected to run, but that was not the case.
Monday’s election followed the resignation of then-speaker, Rep. J. Fonati Koffa (Grandkul, 2nd District). Koffa maintained a significant loss of confidence in the House of Representatives, as he was charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal solicitation and promotion of criminal offences, among all alleged crimes.
Aggressive acquisition
News of reported misconduct in Kofa, reported last September, sparked a constitutional crisis that continued into this week. Koon-led lawmakers rebelled for months, refusing to attend the session, thereby robbing the entire quorum. Their goal is to get the 49 signatures needed to unlock the speaker.
Failing that effort, Kuhn’s self-proclaimed “majority block” selected the speaker, preventing Cofa from entering the speaker’s office suite. It was an unprecedented and effective dismissal in Liberian politics – even in a home where two of the postwar speakers were exiled in similar ways.
What’s even more surprising is the varying incidence of violence surrounding the Saga, culminating in arson attacks on Capitol buildings.
Meanwhile, President Joseph N. Boachey’s government appears to be sufficiently willing to do business in Kuhn’s parallel leadership structure, and budget negotiations must continue to implement his development agenda. The Senate tacitly agreed, receiving the budget passed under Kuhn’s leadership and ratified the document.
Koffa’s refusal
The Supreme Court has come twice to defend Kofa. That opinion, presented in December and April, was called the sitting in the house unconstitutional in the absence of elected speakers.
It was widely recognized as a proof of Cofa’s long battle for his seat, but it was not enough to save it. Koon’s rebellion continued, and ultimately sparked Koffa’s decision to get aside.
However, he did not abandon his resistance to Kuhn. Coffa reportedly chose to support his king, former president of the Saga and Law Governance Caucus and his solid alliance, the king.
However, the latter loss on Monday was a solid will that the House passed through Coffa.
New Corps of Officers
Speaker Koon began a restructuring of the House and appointed the next official to chair the main committee.
Representative James Kore – Chair, Rules, Order, and Management Committee (Bonn County)
Representative P. Mike Julie – Chairs, Roads, Means and Finance Committee (Maryland)
Representative Sekou Kanneh – Chairman, Committee (Montserad County)
Representative Emmanuel Dahn – Co-Chair, Commission, Commission (Montserrado County) Representative Nehker Gaye – Chair, Commission (Nimba County) Commission (Nimba County) would like the usual legislative work to be fully implemented.
Democracy wins – and for now – something
The general consensus on election outcomes actually shows the potential for progress. His ability was generous in accepting his destiny. “We lost the election, but democracy has recovered to the House of Representatives. Liberia will win. The rule of law will win,” he said Monday.
President Boaches were almost quick with his congratulatory remarks. While giving his National Union Day speech at his rehabilitation residence on Wednesday, he called the election a sign of Liberia’s democratic progress.
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Boakai reportedly supported new speakers for the current post early in the new administration, but Koffa discovered that his competitors were too strong. He got his wish on Monday.
The president praised the House for its peaceful and transparent election process, saying it “reflects strong leadership and hope for the nation.”
Kuhn is the standard bearer of the Standard Bearer for Civic Movements (CMC), but has effectively emerged as the face of the Unified Party. In his remarks, the new speaker thanked his colleagues and committed to leading in unity, integrity and service to people.
However, his predecessors, Edwin Melvin Snow, J. Alex Taylor, and now Coffa, are undoubtedly waiting on the wings for news of his fate. Recently, speakers in Liberia rarely fulfill their maturities.
