—-As ‘Pay-for-play’ Threatens Liberia Democracy

IPNEWS: It same that the purported majority block of 40 ‘rebel’ Lawmakers seeking to remove Speaker Fonati Koffa, are diminishing as each day passes.

The authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper is confident at at least 15 ‘rebel’ Lawmakers have defected to the Pro-Koffa loyalist overnight.

It is not clear what has led to such defection, amidst a secret meeting held Saturday morning, October 19, in the Barneville community.

Many of the defectors stated that they were deceived into signing the resolution but later realized that it was gamic to undercut a wider investigation called for by Speaker Koffa’s leadership over continued national budget alteration which has occurred over a decade.

Some of the defectors denied accepting bribes for the signing the resolution, however, signed because they were made to understand by the coup-plotters that President Boakai has ordered this action.

“I tell you this, I purposely attended the meeting in Barnesville earlier today because we needed to get clearer answers to the continuing lies deceiving us about the mandate of President Boakai to have Speaker Koffa remove over his determination to remove 42 million allocated during the budget formulation to off-set payments for the controversial yellow-machines. But we realized that Representative Smauel Kogay and others leading the removal of the Speaker could not convince me and others further.”

“We think its time we as Lawmakers melt fences and return to do the Liberian people work for which we were elected.” A prominent defector told colleagues loyal to the Fonati Koffa’s bloc.

Both the office of President Joseph Boakai and the Ministry of Information have denied the President’s involvement and reiterated the a ‘NO Interest’ for Speaker Koffa removal and call on aggrieved Lawmakers to seek the path of reconciliation and return in the conducting the affairs of business as required by law.

Presidential Spokeswoman, Kula Fofana, told reporters Saturday, October 19, that President Boakai’s interest to ensure the separation of Powers and not interference which was countified by his recent invitation of Speaker Fonati Koffa to join him into Italy.

She stated that all the rumors were total lies that has no truth as President Boakai is interested in the advancement of the development process of the country and not a removal of the Speaker.

It may be recalled, Speaker Cllr. Johnathan Fonati Koffa, sounded a cautionary statement following the passage of the recast 2024 budget, stressing the need for significant reforms in the budgetary process of Liberia.

In his remarks, Speaker Koffa emphasized that the Legislature has inherited a complicated and flawed budget process that requires urgent attention. “We are responsible for the people’s money,” he stated, acknowledging the historical challenges faced by the Legislature in effectively managing budgetary matters.

While expressing his support for the recast budget, Speaker Koffa called on the Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance to proactively prepare for the 2025 National Budget. He urged the committee to implement a structured approach regarding how budgets are received, transmitted, and executed, stressing that accountability from the executive branch is important.

“The violations noted in the recast budget cannot be tolerated. Off-budget spending must adhere strictly to legal guidelines, and the House cannot grant waivers for such infractions,” he asserted.

Speaker Koffa highlighted the importance of ensuring that the budget reflects accountability and transparency in financial management. He urged the Ways, Means, and Finance Committee to re-evaluate the Public Financial Management (PFM) Law, asserting that the current structure has allowed an unelected official, the finance minister, to shift funds at his discretion—an authority that must be curtailed.

“Any passage of the 2025 National Budget must involve necessary adjustments and amendments to the PFM Law,” he stated. He also reminded his colleagues that despite differences, the Legislature must not jeopardize the nation’s progress.

The Speaker’s statements come as the House seeks to enhance its oversight and ensure fiscal responsibility in the management of public funds.

Last week, several ‘rebel’ Lawmakers including some Senators to stage another attempted pilot to remove current Speaker of the House Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa while on official visit to Rome, Italy at the invitation of President Joseph N. Boakai.

Those ‘rebel’ lawmakers opting to remove Speaker Fonati Koffa, includes Representative Ivan K. Jones, of Margibi, District No 2, Rep. Clarence G. Gahr, Margibi county, District No 5, Rep. Foday Fahnbulleh, Bong County, District No. 7, Rep. Dorwohn T. Galeekia, Nimba county, District No. 6, among others.

According to some breakaway ‘rebel’ lawmakers, who confided in IPNEWS, that an overnight meeting to execute the plan failed after members of the House could not reach quorum of 37 Representative out of a total of 73 in keeping with the Houses standing rules.

The rebel lawmakers who were said to be less than 20, purported to be supported by the Executive, even though the Executive has since denied the President’s involvement.

According to the report, the breakaway ‘rebels’ are contenting Speaker Koffa’s recent stance to expose the alteration of the budget which has been the normal trend among key and influential Lawmakers over the last decade.

The Legislative cartel comprising the notable names, are in conspiracy with some members of the Liberian Senate who are opting Speaker Koffa’s removal due to blockade put in place by the current team on the Ways, Means and Finance committee of the House of Representative which is preventing them for dubious acquisition of wealth through budget alteration.

Another breakaway rebel lawmaker told IPNEWS that the Legislative Cartel had planned to remove Speaker Fonati Koffa at the resumption of the regular session last Tuesday, October 15, 2024, but was thwarted due to the lack of quorum.

“They call us last night that Speaker Koffa needs to be remove because he opens up the process of the budget formulation by the involvement of a revenue subcommittee and expenditure subcommittee, including a budget resource expert which now paved way for all 30 persons to review the national budget before passage.”

“Another thing they call us for is that Speaker Koffa insistence that the House of Representatives be audit before end of October 2024 may expose a lot of them, so they decided to let go speaker Koffa before it gets too late.” One of the breakaways ‘rebels’ lawmakers narrate to IPNEWS.

Another source tells IPNEWS that Speaker Koffa presence will undermine the acquisition of resources for many lawmakers who are eyeing 2029.

“I tell you this, the Executive did not like 4.5 million reserved for yellow machines in the national budget which was removed by the House Ways, Means and Finance committee. The independence of the House is at stake, including a critical demand to ensure the expulsion of Representative Yekeh Kolubah from the House of Representative because his constant abuse of President Joseph Boakai were other issues discussed.” Another breakaway ‘rebel’ lawmaker concludes.

It may be recalled, that in the first quarter of 2024, another planned removal failed after some member of the house allegedly with the aid of Deputy Speaker Thomos Fallah, seeking to remove Speaker Fonati Koffa was thwarted. The failed removal came barely two months after a heavily contested scene during the election of the Speaker of the House of Representative.