What’s the Exit Strategy of House Protagonists? -Liberian Prelate Mulls Over Standoff Amongst Lawmakers

MONROVIA – The prolonged stalemate between rival groups in the House of Representatives of the 55^th Legislature has attracted the attention of Liberians of all persuasions who think, amongst other things, that the conflict continues to impact the country negatively, dividing the nation further after the elections of 2023. One Liberian who is particularly sad about the Capitol Hill crisis is a renowned cleric, Bishop Kortu Brown, who is asking the parties to end their mutual venoms before the festive seasons. The Analyst reports. 

Bishop Kortu Brown, former President of the Liberia Council of Churches, says there is no fight without a sensible exit strategy or “Plan B”, stating that if the majority bloc cannot remove Speaker Fonati Koffa, they must ponder a solution and not suffer Liberians as the festive reason draws near.

“No one goes to war without an exit strategy,” he said at a Special Praise Service of his church during the week. “Where is the exit strategy by the lawmakers to bring their conflict to a close?”

The Liberian House of Representatives has been embroiled in a leadership struggle for more than one month now over attempts by some members of the body to remove their speaker over charges of administrative malpractices, financial improprieties, etc., which the Speaker has denied.

Bishop Brown, who spoke at New Water in the Desert Assembly in Brewerville, strongly urged members of the House of Representatives to realize that their standoff cannot continue endlessly when there is so much work to be done for the country and its people.

“They must put the country first, and not themselves,” he noted. “Our lawmakers must feel for the ordinary people and not allow their differences to overshadow the urgencies of doing the Liberian people’s work.”

The Apostolic Pentecostal Church International prelate urged both factions to the House of Representatives conflict to find a way to come together to determine an “Exit Strategy” in resolving their differences.

“It appears that the majority bloc is not able to find the numbers, 49, to remove the Speaker while the Speaker and his bloc are not able to compel their colleagues to come to regular session to do the people’s business. They can’t obtain a simple majority of 37 to achieve that. Where do we go then? What’s the exit strategy?” he quipped.

“As we approach the festive Christmas season, it is time that the spirit of love, peace, understanding and compromise supersede our every national action,” the bishop indicated. “If the lawmakers are unable to replace the Speaker now, they should consider other options and not take this crisis to the Christmas season”.

“Similarly, if the Speaker is unable to compel his colleagues to the regular session what are his next steps? There has to be an exit strategy out of this crisis which can only be considered untimely and unfortunate,” he contended.

Bishop Brown wondered what the Executive Branch of government was doing to help resolve the crisis from behind the scene.

“Which side do they recognize now that agents of the Executive Branch are showing up at the hearings of the majority bloc to transact business with them? When will the National Budget be transmitted to the Legislature given that the Constitution of Liberia requires that the consideration of the budget begins in the House of Representatives?”

The outspoken cleric welcomed the delegation of the parliament of ECOWAS and pray for the success of their mission.