Liberia’s House Leadership Crisis: Accusations of Power and Financial Manipulation

The House of Representatives in Liberia is embroiled in a leadership crisis, with Representative Dixon Seboe accusing Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah of plotting to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa to gain control of House finances. Fallah’s controversial actions and past allegations of financial misconduct have intensified tensions following a split within the House. The leadership conflict remains unresolved, with both factions firmly entrenched.

The ongoing internal conflict within the House of Representatives in Liberia has intensified, as accusations among lawmakers escalate. Representative Dixon Seboe has accused Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah of orchestrating a leadership crisis to dominate the House’s financial management for personal benefit. Seboe highlighted Fallah’s longstanding influence in the Legislature, alleging that his dissatisfaction with Speaker J. Fonati Koffa’s leadership prompted efforts to unseat him.

During a recent broadcast on OK FM, Seboe claimed, “I think fundamentally, it is about who divides the cake… He is the fundamental problem at the Capitol.” He further emphasized Fallah’s belief that he should be in a position to dictate committee leadership and, feeling sidelined, is taking unprecedented actions to reclaim control.

Fallah has emerged as a central figure in the leadership turmoil. His decision to split from Speaker Koffa and lead the Majority Bloc has led to a significant shift in committee assignments within the House, resulting in Seboe’s replacement as Chair of the influential Ways, Means, and Finance Committee. This move was described as a “legislative mutiny,” alongside the election of Rep. Richard Koon as new Speaker, actions which have since been challenged in the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

Seboe has raised additional concerns about Fallah’s past financial practices, alleging involvement in budget manipulation. He conveyed that Fallah had previously advised him to misinform colleagues about a US$900,000 allocation for special legislative sittings. “This is the cause of the fight at the Capitol Building—people want to steal and eat people’s money,” Seboe remarked, indicating deeper issues of financial misconduct.

These allegations against Fallah are not unprecedented; historical claims include accusations of forming a “cartel” that sought to manipulate the national budget for personal gain. Speaker Koffa has previously highlighted this issue as a reason for his opposition to changes in leadership.

The leadership conflict remains unresolved, with significant divisions among lawmakers. Seboe lamented the inability to resolve differences, stressing the need for adherence to legal processes. He indicated that the Rule of Law Caucus has boycotted the Majority Bloc’s activities due to their perceived illegitimacy.

As of now, Deputy Speaker Fallah has not publicly addressed these most recent accusations, leaving the possibility of further conflict at the Capitol open as factions remain entrenched in their positions.

The conflict within Liberia’s House of Representatives highlights significant challenges regarding leadership and financial management. Allegations against Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah by Representative Dixon Seboe reveal deep-seated issues surrounding authority and ethical governance. With unresolved divisions amongst lawmakers and a lack of legal legitimacy in current actions, the ongoing struggle for power emphasizes the need for adherence to legal processes and norms in parliamentary conduct.

Original Source: frontpageafricaonline.com