{"id":47853,"date":"2023-11-25T16:14:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T16:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/thirty-lawmakers-lobby-to-make-deputy-speaker-koffa-consensus-candidate-for-the-speaker-position-describe-him-as-most-trusted"},"modified":"2023-11-25T16:50:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T16:50:17","slug":"thirty-lawmakers-lobby-to-make-deputy-speaker-koffa-consensus-candidate-for-the-speaker-position-describe-him-as-most-trusted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/thirty-lawmakers-lobby-to-make-deputy-speaker-koffa-consensus-candidate-for-the-speaker-position-describe-him-as-most-trusted","title":{"rendered":"Thirty Lawmakers Lobby To Make Deputy Speaker Koffa \u2018Consensus Candidate\u2019 For The Speaker Position, Describe Him As Most Trusted"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Liberia. <\/strong><\/span>At least 30 Lawmakers, in a surprised welcoming program on Monday at the James Springs Payne Airfield in Monrovia, endorsed the candidacy of Deputy Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa to run for the Speaker position of the 55th Legislature.In the undisclosed meeting held in the executive\u2019s lounge at the airfield, Montserrado County District #15 Representative-elect Dixon Seboe is said to moderate the \u201chouse-keeping\u2019s discussion\u201d where 30 lawmakers vowed to lobby to make Deputy Speaker a consensus candidate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is incumbent upon us to lobby and make Deputy Speaker Koffa a consensus candidate who can serve as the most trusted caretaker and good steward of the gavel.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should ensure the unanimity for victory to be certain,\u201d said Rep. Seboe.<\/p>\n

Margibi County District #3 Representative-elect Mrs. Ellen Attoh-Wreh and Bong County District #3 Representative-elect J. Marvin Cole said separately in the interviews, that over the six years of knowing Deputy Speaker Koffa and three of the years which he served as Deputy Speaker, he is capable of not only been trusted but also to advance comprehensive policy agenda despite of party\u2019s affiliation, promote transparency and accountability including the promotion of individual members and more.<\/p>\n

The representative of the newly elected lawmakers, which make-up 60% of the Deputy Speaker\u2019s bloc, said in anonymity, that a Southeast Speaker will balance power, with the President and Vice President elect from Lofa and Nimba Counties\u2019 respectively; while the Senate Pro Tempore position is been promised to Grand Bassa County.<\/p>\n

For his part, Deputy Speaker Koffa told reporters on Monday: \u201cI am humbled to have so many colleagues to reach out to me to encourage me to seek the nomination for Speaker. However, after much prayer and deliberation, we will be making a formal declaration hopefully next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Deputy Speaker, in response to Lofa County District #1 Representative-elect Thomas Fallah \u2018s interest of becoming Speaker, said \u201che is confident that CDC will produce one candidate for the Speakership race.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Deputy Speaker also expressed his confident that he can be \u201ctrusted\u201d to serve as Speaker under the UP-led government if picked by the CDC to contest the Speakership election.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Koffa had congratulated President-elect Joseph Nyuma Boakai on his historic win in the country\u2019s presidential election and wish him all the best in his service to the nation.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the Deputy Speaker congratulated President George Manneh Weah on being a \u201ctrue democrat who has demonstrated mature leadership at a defining moment in our country\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe grace with which he conceded defeat is legendary and it testifies to the fact that President Weah is a true real patriot and man of peace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\r\n