By Bill W. Cooper
The Chairperson of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jangar Kowo, warned his party’s lawmakers to desist from the process or risk being punished.
The treats come in the midst of the ongoing battle to remove Grand Kru Senator Fonati Koffa as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Chairman Kowo asserted that even though it is the lawmakers’ constitutional and legislative rights to elect and remove a speaker, said move involving his party lawmakers at this time is ‘immature and untimely’.
“We call on our lawmakers who signed the resolution to remove Speaker Koffa to withdraw their signatures now or risked punitive action from the party executive because we believe this decision is a slap in the face of the CDC,” he cautioned.
However, Chairman Kowo assertion comes in the wake of allegations that 43 Representatives received some financial bribe in the tune of US$15,000 to unseat Speaker Koffa, thus raising serious concerns amongst the citizenry.
The revelation was made by Gbarpolu County Representative, Luther Collins who complained his colleagues to the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) through the provision of pictorial and video evidence of the bribery allegation.
Even though the allegation has since been denied by the accused lawmakers, the LACC through its Chairperson, Cllr. Alexandra Zoe said they launched an immediate investigation into matter based on the gravity of the allegation.
For the past two weeks, the country has been shaken by a dramatic push from 43 Representatives to oust Speaker Koffa over his alleged involvement into corruption, lack of leadership and conflict of interest among others.
The situation has since affected normal legislative business coupled with the prevention of holding regular session by the representatives due to lack of quorum for four sittings, ignoring their constitutional responsibilities which are lawmaking, oversight and representation.
Also, the impasse has further led to the holding of separate sessions by both parties, sparking serious uncertainty among Liberians in the midst of the economic hardship the country is confronted with.
In an interview with ELBC radio, the CDC Chairman also accused the Unity party (UP) government of President Joseph Boakai of financially inducing the lawmakers to remove the Speaker.
When quizzed as to whether his CDC lawyers were also bribed, Kowo asserted, “From what we have gathered and based on the evidence in our possession, we can say that they were all allegedly financially induced by the President.”
“Again, we plead with our lawmakers to withdraw their signatures, as we continue our ongoing negotiation, but if for any reason(s) these lawmakers will refuse, the party’s executives will take a punitive action against them.
Again, do not allow yourself to be used by Boakai and his lawmakers to remove your party’s Speaker because any attempt to do so, would be given this already failed government an edge to exploit the Liberian people,” he added.
However, Unity Party’s (UP) chairperson Luther Tarpeh, came in sharp defense frowning at chairman Kowo’s allegation, describing his assertion as “laughable and unfortunate.”
Chairman Tarpeh added, “You know the CDC is noted for such a drama and we from the UP are not going to give them the kind of credence they seek at our expense.”
“Why blame UP for the removal of the Speaker when in fact, over 10 of your Representatives are among those wanting to remove the Speaker? But again, that is CDC right there; always on blame-gaming,” he asserted.
