Even after the embattled Speaker Cllr. J. Fonatoi Koffa communicated to President Joseph Boakai to avoid doing business with the majority believed to be illegal; three of his governing kinsmen, including the Ministers of Transport and Internal Affairs Sirleaf Tyler and Francis Nyumane, made an appearance before members of the Anti-Koffa Speakership.
They were not alone. Liberia Water and Sever Cooperation (LWSC) Managing Director Mo Ali was also seen with the Ministers to clarify the allegations against them.
It can be recalled that these officials of the Executive Branch have been accused of providing funding to aid in the ousting of embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
However, Boakai’s governing kinsmen denied the allegation, describing it as false and misleading. They added that the allegations are intended to derail their reputations and those of the majority lawmakers calling for the removal of Speaker Fonati Koffa.
Many see the appearance of these officials before the lawmakers calling for Speaker Koffa’s removal as a sign of doing business with a bloc noted as unconstitutional.
According to political pundits, it was a test to see whether President Boakai would allow members of the Executive branch to adhere to the summons made by the majority bloc.
Their action now has the proclivity of allowing the Ant-Koffa lawmakers to believe that the president is doing business with them because the Chief Executive allows his kinsmen to adhere to their mandate.
While the President is yet to make any public pronouncement to his officials, informing them about who and who not to do business with, the appearance of the transport minister, Internal Affairs Minister, and LWSC Managing Director before the lawmakers has sparked concerns among Liberians.
While others are in favor of the decision taken by executive members, critics believe their action is an indirect manifestation of the President’s will to do business with the majority bloc that does not have the required numbers to remove the Speaker.
Making it more interesting, on October 31, a day statutorily set for the submission of the yearly National Draft Budget, the President, in a communication to the Legislative Body, told the body that he could present the budget due to the limited time that would allow the Executive to consider all relevant issues.
The letter indicated that the time was not sufficient to meet all aspects of the draft budget, and discussions with national and international stakeholders were ongoing, pushing the submission to November 8, 2024.
For the second time, the President informed the Legislature about his unwillingness to present the 2025 Draft National Budget.
In separate communications to the House of Representatives and the Senate, the President said he is holding legal consultations given the constitutional implications of the impasse at the House of Representatives.
These actions, now coming from the Chief Executive, continue to stimulate the belief in working with the Ant-Koffa Speakership group.
It remains unclear whether the President would act or continue his silence on the appearance of his subordinates before the majority bloc conducted a ‘session’ in the joint chamber of the House of Representatives.
