MONROVIA – Majority bloc Speaker Richard Koon has openly declared himself a “Regime Speaker,” admitting that his primary objective is to ensure the Unity Party-led government’s development agenda succeeds.
“Today, I am the regime Speaker of the Republic of Liberia, and I am 100 percent supporting His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai. No Speaker from the opposition will promote our agenda,” Koon told residents of his district at a gathering.
His statement has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many condemning it as self-serving and counterproductive to national reconciliation, inclusivity, and nation-building.
For nearly two months, Koon and a faction of lawmakers—both from the opposition and the ruling bloc—staged a political standoff at RLJ Hotel in Paynesville. Their objective was to unseat Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. However, their efforts collapsed when they failed to adhere to legislative procedures governing the removal of a Speaker.
There are growing allegations that the Executive branch spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to fund this failed attempt to remove Koffa. Despite months of political maneuvering, the plan remains unexecuted.
Koon insists that an opposition Speaker is an obstacle to the ruling party’s agenda.
“The ARREST Agenda must be fulfilled. That’s why we said an opposition Speaker will not push our agenda. We need to have our own Speaker,” he emphasized.
Though he failed to provide concrete examples, Koon accused Speaker Koffa of stifling the ARREST Agenda and other government initiatives.
Koffa, elected as Representative of Grand Kru County District #2 under the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has repeatedly pledged to work in harmony with President Boakai and the Judiciary for the sake of national development. He even accompanied the President on official trips to the United States and Italy.
His collaborative stance, however, has drawn criticism from hardline opposition members, who accuse him of failing to hold the government accountable for its promises.
Koon’s Statement Condemned
Several opposition politicians have expressed outrage over Koon’s remarks and the broader political impasse in the House of Representatives.
Liberia People’s Party (LPP) leader Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, speaking on the popular Spoon Talk radio and online show, called for severe consequences against the majority bloc lawmakers for their disregard for the rule of law.
According to Gongloe, these legislators have “desecrated the sanctity of their offices” and should not receive the privileges accorded to lawmakers. He also expressed disappointment in President Boakai for backing what he described as “rebellious lawmakers” engaged in “grievous wrongs” against the state.
Gongloe, a 2023 presidential candidate, argued that the ongoing power struggle in the House is unconstitutional and should not go unpunished.
Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe also criticized Koon and his allies, noting the hypocrisy of their actions.
“It is appalling that those who criticized everything done by their predecessors are now committing even greater wrongs than those they demonized yesterday,” Snowe remarked.
Although an independent candidate, Snowe has aligned with the opposition bloc in the Senate.
Judiciary’s Stance on the Crisis
The Supreme Court has weighed in on the dispute, further complicating the political standoff.
Associate Justice Yormie Quiqui Gbeisay recently stated at the opening of court in Nimba County that the majority bloc’s actions were “ultra vires”—a legal term meaning they were acting beyond their authority. He also ruled that the minority bloc lacked the constitutional backing to conduct business in the absence of a quorum.
Justice Gbeisay defended the Supreme Court Justices’ decision to boycott President Boakai’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), stating that no legitimate Speaker was presiding at the time.
However, Bong County Representative Foday Fahnbulleh dismissed Gbeisay’s comments as “liquor talk,” insinuating that the judge’s statement was influenced by alcohol. He also condemned the Supreme Court’s refusal to recognize Koon as Speaker and its absence from the SONA.
As the political turmoil deepens, the nation watches closely to see whether the House of Representatives can resolve its internal leadership crisis—or whether the struggle for power will continue to paralyze the legislature.
Discussion about this post