AS BILITY JOINS FORCES TO CREATE A SINGLE SLATE
Monrovia, Liberia – One of those who previously proclaimed his desire to hold the top position in the lower house has banded together to generate a single candidate, which is a major boost to Representative Richard Nagbe Koon of Montserrado County District #11’s aspirations to become the speaker of the house of representatives at the Liberian Legislature.
Musa H. Bility won the Nimba County district #7 race on the ticket of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) of Mr. Alexander B. Cummings. Representative Koon, a member of the Unity Party, was reelected during the October 10, 2023, presidential and parliamentary elections.
Bility recently announced his ambition to run for the speakership, a decision that received the backing of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, the man considered the political godfather of Nimba. The decision for the collaboration was announced at the close of a meeting between the UP Legislative Alliance and Musa Bility Block on Thursday, December 14, 2023, in Congo Town.
Speaking to a team of legislative reporters minutes following the adjournment of the meeting, Mr. Bility said his block and that of the Unity Party Alliance had realized that they could not win the election in the absence of collaboration.
“The two camps that you see in the meeting have realized they can only win when they get together, and that’s why we have unanimously agreed to do that.”
Although the partnership has not yet been officially verified, Bility states he is bringing 21 parliamentarians with him, and he is optimistic that the combined efforts will result in the appointment of a speaker and a deputy speaker.
“We’ve spoken with the UP and the CDC, and from what I’ve heard, the UP is more reasonable, more approachable, and more realistic than the CDC.”
Also speaking, Representative Koon said the two blocks have decided to work together to produce the speaker and deputy speaker in January 2023.
“The Honourable Musa Bility of the CPP would collaborate with Unity and its Alliance. We have reached an agreement to combine the two blocks into one to generate the speaker and deputy speaker.”
The public and a few House members don’t think the House of Representatives would function as a rubber stamp body if the majority leader is a member of the ruling party.
However, under his ideal leadership, the situation will be handled differently, the speaker aspirant informed parliamentary reporters. He said that, in contrast to Speaker Bhofal Chambers, who was “handpicked” by President Weah, Koon’s selection was the result of agreement among Unity Party Legislative Alliance members.
There are reportedly 27 members of the UP Legislative Alliance. The deputy speaker seat in the House of Representatives is thought to be coveted by the CPP lawmaker, yet it is unclear if the Bility Block will yield the deputy speaker.
According to Koon and Bility, the arrangement is expected to be completed in the next 48 hours, which means the UP Legislative Alliance could be able to claim 48 lawmakers—a number that could help either side win.
On January 15, 2024, elections for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker are anticipated to take place.
Reported by: Blamo N. Toe
Contact: +231775963245/+231880320363
Email: blamotoe93@gmail.
