The recent attempt to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa from his leadership role in the House of Representatives is not just another political maneuver. It is a scandal that goes to the very core of Liberia’s democratic integrity, exposing an unsettling and dangerous undercurrent of corruption, manipulation, and betrayal. The allegations that certain lawmakers affixed their signatures to the petition to oust Speaker Koffa under the influence of bribery, with some admitting to accepting cash, should deeply disturb every Liberian who values good governance, transparency, and accountability.
Until October 17, there had been no public discord regarding Cllr. Koffa’s leadership, either from within the ruling establishment or the opposition. However, the sudden rush to remove him, with 47 lawmakers signing a petition, reeks of ulterior motives. The fact that several of these lawmakers have since withdrawn their support, with one even admitting to “spying” on the process to identify its true architects, speaks volumes about the dubious nature of this political fiasco.
What makes this entire saga so despicable is the blatant disregard for the principles of governance and democracy. These lawmakers did not raise any of the issues they are now using to justify their actions before this petition. Speaker Koffa has served in his role since January 2024, and yet, none of these so-called grievances were aired until now. This begs the question: What has changed? What new information has surfaced that makes these lawmakers suddenly so eager to remove the Speaker?
The answer is obvious. This is not about governance or upholding the integrity of the House of Representatives. This is about personal gain and political expediency. It is about preventing an audit of the House of Representatives, an audit that threatens to expose financial mismanagement and corruption among some of Liberia’s most powerful politicians. It is also about preventing the Speaker from presiding over the 2025 National Budget as he tightened the screws on the processees leading to the passage of the National Budget following the tampering of the 2024 budget. The timing of this coup attempt, just as the Speaker is pushing for accountability, is no coincidence. It is a calculated move designed to protect the guilty and shield them from scrutiny.
But the audacity of these lawmakers goes beyond just self-preservation. By allegedly accepting bribes to sign this petition, they have betrayed the trust of the Liberian people and dragged our national legislature into the mud. Lawmakers are supposed to represent the interests of their constituents, not the interests of their bank accounts. The revelation by Representative Luther Collins, who openly confessed to being offered a bribe of US$25,000 to sign the petition, is nothing short of shocking. His courageous decision to expose this “pay-for-play” scheme is commendable, but it also highlights the depth of the rot that has infected our political system.
The confession of bribery, the rush to remove the Speaker without proper process, and the subsequent withdrawal of support by several lawmakers all point to one undeniable conclusion: this was not an attempt to hold the Speaker accountable for any legitimate wrongdoing. Rather, it was a cynical, corrupt plot to undermine transparency and derail the audit that threatens to expose the financial dealings of key figures within the legislature.
It is particularly disturbing that this plot appears to have been allegedly orchestrated by some of the most senior figures in the government, including Vice President Jeremiah Koung, Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, and former Speaker Emmanuel Nuquay. If these allegations are true, it suggests that those who should be setting an example for the rest of the country are instead using their positions of power to enrich themselves and manipulate the political system for their own benefit.
The Liberian Investigator which stands for truth and integrity calls for nothing less than the immediate and thorough investigation of every lawmaker involved in this scandal. The bribery allegations must be fully explored, and those found guilty should face the full force of the law. There can be no place in our national legislature for individuals who would sell their vote for a few thousand dollars. The integrity of our democratic institutions depends on the willingness of our leaders to act with honesty and transparency, and those who fall short of this standard must be held accountable.
Furthermore, this scandal raises serious questions about the role of money in our politics. The fact that such a large sum of money could be offered to bribe lawmakers into ousting a Speaker shows just how deeply money has corrupted our political system. The people of Liberia deserve better. They deserve a government that works for them, not one that is driven by backroom deals and bribes.
The attempt to remove Speaker Koffa is not just a political misstep — it is a national disgrace. The lawmakers who signed that petition, especially those who did so under the influence of bribery, have betrayed the trust of the people they were elected to serve. They have shown that they are more interested in their own financial gain than in the wellbeing of the nation. This cannot be allowed to stand. The people of Liberia deserve better, and it is up to the government, the judiciary, and civil society to ensure that justice is done. Those who sought to undermine the Speaker and derail the audit of the House must be held accountable, and the integrity of our democracy must be restored.
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