MONROVIA – The deepening leadership crisis in the House of Representatives seems to have no end in sight, as the ‘majority bloc’ under Richard Koon’s gavel is shaking up the House, replacing J. Fonati Koff-appointed officials.
Further wielding and flexing his gavel as the House Majority Speaker, Representative Richard Nagbe Koon recently presided over the 8th-day sitting of the second House session where it was ruled to withdraw the House’s representatives to the Ecowas Parliament.
Those affected by the action include Bong County District # 6 Representative Moima Briggs Mensah, Nimba County District # 9 Representative Taa Wongbe, and Montserrado County District #6 Representative Rev. Samuel Enders.
This has apparently drawn ire from Taa Wongbe who has reacted sharply to the report about the shakeup.
Resorting to his social media page, the Nimba Lawmaker said: “If I, Taa Zogbe Karto Wongbe, a freshman lawmaker, could challenge a legitimate Speaker who I spearheaded his campaign, what about you?”
Apparently referring to the self-styled speaker of the ‘majority bloc’, Wongbe said: “An illegal orangutan Speaker like you. Let me conclude my district activities. I am coming for you!”
Prior to making his cryptic social media comment, Representative Taa had shared his thoughts on the ECOWAS imbroglio which he labelled in another Facebook post as “ECOWAS WAHALA”.
“Many people have reached out regarding the situation with the House and ECOWAS. What those jokers don’t understand is how some of us got to where we are today and why an esteemed publication like Forbes would name a ‘nobody’ like me one of their #Next1000,” he stressed.
“I have never been one to seek power. My focus has always been on purpose, service, and impact. When we came to the House, while some of us went for strategic relationship committees, the ‘politicians’ were fighting for ‘money’ committees. They can gladly illegally stuff, eat, chew, and swallow their ‘Chairman on Foreign Affairs’ committee, but they can NEVER take ECOWAS until 2028. They like it, they can fall down and die, they will not get it!”
He continued: “Let me share my story, not to boast, but to testify to the power of grace. I did not enter politics empty-handed. At 22, I founded Lunchtime Deals, which was later integrated into CitySearch. At 24, I started Pangean Technologies, which was acquired in 2007.
“In 2008, I established The Khana Group (TKG), which today operates in seven countries – something I never imagined would be possible when I first started. Along the way, I co-founded ONE Liberia and the Liberian Professional Network (LPN) to create platforms for collaboration and nation-building.”
Beyond entrepreneurship, the Nimba county representative said, he has had the privilege of working in corporate consulting, advising some of the world’s largest organizations on strategy and innovation.
“Yet, despite these experiences, I was drawn to politics not because I needed it, but because I saw it as a calling, a means to make a lasting impact,” he said further. “My political journey has been one of perseverance. I helped lead my brother Ben Sanvee’s campaign in 2014, led the launch of Alexander B. Cummings’ political career, ran for the Senate in 2020 and lost, then ran for the House in 2023 and won.”
Through it all, he said, he has come to understand that leadership is not about titles…it is about service and impact.
“I share my history because my story is one of grace,” he stressed, adding: “I am just a country Gio boy from Graie, Nimba County, who has been blessed with opportunities beyond my imagination. I went to the US when I was 20, and God has been good. None of this is by my doing. It is by the grace of God. So, if you find yourself in opposition to me, know that your battle is not with me ooh! It is with Him.”
As the Majority Bloc lawmakers gears up to vote today for a new group of lawmakers to represent the body at the ECOWAS Parliament, pundits wonder whether the ECOWAS Parliament will surrender to the whims of Speaker Koon and his Majority bloc lawmakers or will ECOWAS demand for the three lawmakers to retain their positions.
“Let’s wait and see how it turns out. This outcome should be very interesting for our body politics,” says Justin Weah, a political commentator from the Borough of New Kru Town.