“Resignation Is an Option”

By Mark N. Mengonfia

CAPITOL BILLHouse Speaker, J. Fonati Koffa has vowed  not to  resign his position as Speaker of that body, stating that “resignation is an option and I will never give  up to the Majority or anyone”

Since October of this year, members of the 55th Legislature have been in a clash that has witnessed a deep division among its members with 43 lawmakers pushing for the Speaker to be ousted while 30 have said they are standing with their rules and constitution that calls for due process.

The 43 lawmakers have refused to sit under the gabble of Speaker Koffa, alleging that he is corrupt and has conflict of interest reasons among others they want him to be removed as Speaker.

Since the battle for supremacy started, calls have pulled in from different groups including regional body, ECOWAS to find an amicable solution but it has not worked as the two groups are at a deadlock not wanting to give in.

ECOWAS delegation visited Liberia recently but their negotiation did not work leaving Liberia without any result.

Speaking Monday at a press conference in the rotunda of the Capitol, Speaker Koffa said he will not leave his position and called the majority bloc to respect the rules of the House of Representatives and the 1986 constitution of Liberia.

“Resignation is an option. It is a voluntary act of mine that I will never concede to the majority bloc. We will stand on the side of the law,” he said.

He continued: “We can face the Liberian people; our vision is clear. On this journey, we will stand on the side of the Liberian people and the rule of law,” Speaker Koffa said.

He called citizens of Liberia and all those calling for his resignation to instead call on the members of the majority bloc to return to the main Chambers for Legislative work.

Speakers before Koffa were pressured to resign but the lawmaker who is determined to test the laws of Liberia has stated that, “This nonsense has to stop” as he is unwilling to be pressured to resign as was done to Edwin Snowe and J. Alex Tyler.

He said once they were requesting him remove, when they  obtain their required 49 lawmakers, he will request for the procedure of removal to be carried out stating that anything outside if it, he will never give in.

“I don’t want to be here one day past 49 [signatures]. As soon as you get 49 signatures, I am out. But this nonsense, where a few groups of people, either induced or not, come to destabilize the House and its leadership for personal aggrandizement —that bus stops here.”

New Republic Liberia

Alphonso Toweh

Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets  including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and  did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters 
 He holds first  MA with honors in International  Relations and a  candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict  Resolution from the University of Liberia.