Montserrado County’s electoral district #1 Representative, Rugie Yartu Barry, along with other lawmakers as Thomas Goshua and Priscilla Cooper, has reversed her previous consent to a resolution reportedly signed by 48 members of the House of Representatives for the removal of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
On Thursday, the grounds of the Capitol Building in Monrovia turned chaotic with pro and anti-lawmakers in the on-going political fight to remove the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Representative Barry is one of the lawmakers who affixed their signatures to the document.
A few hours after the signing of the resolution, news broke up among some of the lawmakers that each of them was allegedly induced with US$25,000, of which US$15,000 was paid as an advance “pay-to-play” payment to remove the Speaker, an allegation linked to Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and Vice President Jeremiah Koung as the masterminds.
However, since the news of “pay-to-play” took over the country, stirring mixed reactions in the public, Representative Barry, along with some of the representatives who signed the resolution, withdrew her signature from the document.
In a press statement issued over the weekend, the lawmaker confirmed signing the resolution to remove Speaker Koffa, but clarified that her intent was not influenced by cash.
“Let me be obvious: I signed a resolution void of cash/money influence to address policy and procedural issues at the Legislature/House of Representatives,” she stated.
Representative Barry emphasized that the policy and procedural issues include removing district development funds from the budget, and amendment to the rules of the House of Representatives, among others.
The Montserrado County lawmaker further indicated that holding meetings to discuss issues affecting legislative workings and signing to communicate these issues are normal business at the Legislature.
“Making effort to address procedural issues doesn’t in any way mean displaying what was done at the capitol building yesterday, which should be a place for honorable men and women,” Representative Barry stated.
She expressed shock over the news revealing the dishing out of cash among her legislative colleagues. “Now, it has come to my attention that some members of the House are alleged to have received money for their signatures to remove the Speaker.
“For the Record, I, Rugie Yatu Barry, did not receive any money to do such thing as removing Hon. Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa,” she clarified. The lawmaker stated that she has built her integrity all her life, and will not allow her character to be dragged into the mud.
“Therefore, in view of the aforementioned, I Hon. Rugie Barry, Representative of electoral district #1, Montserrado County, do hereby officially withdraw my signature from the petition to effectuate the removal of Hon. Cllr J. Fonati Koffa as Speaker of the 55th Liberian Legislature,” she rescinded her decision.
Representative Barry at the same time urged her colleagues to stay calm and civil amid the fight. “I call on all sides to take a step back and engage in conversations that will lead to us doing the business of the Liberian People.”
She maintained that the House of Representatives be audited, and called on the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) to investigate the allegation of bribery among lawmakers to foster transparency and accountability and further hold people accountable for the actions.
