MONROVIA-About 43 lawmakers opposed to the leadership and authority of House Speaker, Cllr. Fonati Koffa have reiterated their resolve and determination of not backing off until their demand of getting their subject out is achieved.
Interestingly so, amongst the contending lawmakers are members of the embattled Speaker’s own Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Party that many believe should be in the lead in finding solution to the issue.
But as gathered, the crux and pillar of the concerned lawmakers’ resistance is the commitment made to their masters or encouragers through the little emolument or inducement they allegedly received which is now the ‘kafu’. Traditionally, kafu is anything one receives or eaten from another person to serve as catalyst to do something.
Many Liberians are of the belief that the Speaker’s greatest enemy in the removal saga is the kafu – the alleged bribe – lawmakers have received or eaten to execute the job of ensuring the Speaker is ousted.
The concerned lawmakers have denied receiving money as inducement to oust their once cherished leader. One Representative on the side of Speaker Koffa last week paraded with money in a vehicle he claimed to have received as bribe from the ‘Koffa must go’ camp.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has already announced that it has taken seize of the matter, and will conduct a thorough investigation into the allegation of bribery to remove the Speaker.
Besides, the Liberian government through the Executive Branch which is accused of behind the entire hubbub has pledged its commitment to getting to the bottom of the allegation on grounds that bribery under Liberian laws is a crime.
Though the embattled Speaker has dug in the heels that he would not relinquish his position under pressure or outside of due and legal process, citizens think it is only a matter of time for him to quit.
“Removing Speakers is not a strange politics at the National Legislature, and we are aware the action is always catalyzed creamed by bribery. Once that Kafu is in their stomachs, Koffa will fight but will surrender in the end,” stated Paul Doe of Point Four, who said he feels so dearly for the Speaker for the trouble he is into.
Doe added that “the guys are not acting in isolation; there have been encouraged and induced by people who oppose and abhor koffa because of his understanding and the reforms he is putting in place.”
“Talks about doing things differently, not business as usual is purely labial, not realistic, and this is exemplified in the Koffa removal saga because some of our brothers feel ownership of the missteps and undercover ways things are done at the National Legislature, mainly the House of Representatives,” Mr. Doe further stated.
Asked why he thinks it is difficult for the rebellious lawmakers are not showing signs of backing off, he emphatically intimated that “it is the work of Kafu.”
According to him, once those concerned received something the process, they would not bow down because it will be betrayal of the confidence reposed in them by their masters.
Nathaniel Ballah of Caldwell, who also shared his thoughts on the issue that has drawn incredible national and international attention, consented that it would be hard to find amicable solution to the problem because “of the issue of kafu which is delicate in any arrangement or undertaking.”
“Once one receives money or anything from another person to do a piece of job, either positive or negative, that becomes a kafu and it puts that person in a strict position to move on with whatever plans,” Ballah who said he grew up in the midst of tradition asserted.
“Trust me, some of the lawmakers are traditionalists; they grew up in the interior, born unto traditional families. And so, they are inclined to the values of tradition and culture because they are consequences in these situations,” he emphasized further.
He expressed frustration that the situation is getting dramatic day by day instead of watering down towards solution, noting that “once the guys remain together or the more they come together, the hardest it becomes for them to back off.”
Ballah insinuated that the masters of the upheaval to remove the Speaker are playing the cat and rat game with the issue, stressing “in the open they either innocent or against the idea to remove the Speaker, but behind closed doors, they are further inflaming things.”
Also are Liberians who believe the issue of security for the rebellious lawmakers, should they surrender, is of paramount concern to them. All of these factors, they claimed, has hardened the hearts of the concerned lawmakers to back off from the episode of getting rid of the Speaker.
Those seeking Speaker Koffa’s removal have accused him of corruption, conflict of interest, budget alteration and manipulation and undermining of Committees’ functions. The Speaker has denied all of the allegations leveled against him as baseless.
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