–CDC Condemns His Move; Considers Next Step Of Action
The Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Thomas P. Fallah, has found himself in a miasma of legal and political conundrum in the battle to remove the Speaker, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, as he previously aligned with the Speaker’s bloc but now finds himself presiding over the “majority bloc” for the Speaker’s removal.
On Thursday, October 31, 2024 Deputy Speaker Fallah made a shocking move to preside over the session of the “majority bloc”, describing it as the only way to find an amicable solution to the House’s entanglement that would satisfy all sides.
He noted that his decision to listen to the “majority bloc” at this stage is in respect of the House’s Rules and Procedures, and the Liberian Constitution, and not a choice against the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) or Speaker Koffa, whom he said he continues to respect and support. He underscored that he cannot ignore his responsibility to act when the legislative body is at a standstill and the functioning of the national government is at risk.
The Deputy Speaker admitted to finding himself in a miasma of legal and political conundrum, but assured all Liberians and members of the CDC, in particular, that he has consulted sufficiently across all sides, and that he took the decision in the best interest of the country, as well as his party.
However, it appears like the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), or at least its leadership, headed by Janga Kowo, knows nothing about his move to the “majority bloc”, terming his action as disobedience to the CDC National Executive Committee and former President George Manneh Weah.
In a release issued Thursday, the CDC condemned Deputy Speaker Fallah and other CDC lawmakers who disobeyed the party to go against Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, indicating that their action is clearly influenced by the Joseph Boakai government and intended to destabilize the CDC.
Regrettably, the CDC observed that under Liberian democratic practices, political parties have limited control over their members elected to the National Legislature, as suspension or expulsion have no bearing on their seat at the National Legislature. However, the CDC emphasized that it is considering its next steps.
Meanwhile, the embattled Speaker, Cllr. Fonati Koffa, has expressed serious disappointment in members of the “majority bloc” for refusing to go to work despite being paid.
“How can you take lawmakers and hold them hostage like one kindergarten child in one location, you bring them to work you carry them back?” Speaker Koffa wondered.
It is expected that members of the Speaker’s bloc will on Monday, November 4, 2024 join their team of lawyers to appear at the Supreme Court for the hearing called by the Justice in Chamber, His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay. But it is not clear whether or not the “majority bloc” will have any representation at the court, as they previously vowed to resist the court’s order, and their actions prove exactly so.