MONROVIA – Ambassador Rufus Neufville, a former Representative for District #8 in Montserrado County, has added his voice to the ongoing tension in the House of Representatives regarding Speaker J. Fonati Koffa’s leadership. In a recent commentary titled “My Legislative Experience On The Removal Of Speaker,” Neufville shared insights from his own experiences during a contentious legislative period in 2007.
Recalling the events of that time, Neufville led a team of minority lawmakers opposing the removal of Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. He emphasized the lack of due process in the proceedings and suggested that their colleagues were swayed by powerful, unseen influences. As the majority faction convened at the Unity Conference Center in Virginia, Neufville and his supporters conducted their business at the Pavillion in Monrovia. He noted that while they started with a solid number of supporters, their ranks dwindled as the majority’s strength grew.
“The Chief Clerk and other employees at the Capitol began taking instructions from the majority while Snowe was still Speaker,” Neufville recounted. “One day, we arrived at the Pavillion only to find the Speaker’s chair and table missing. A security officer informed us that the Sergeant had taken the chair to the majority at the Unity Conference Center.”
Faced with these challenges, Neufville and his supporters turned to the Honorable Supreme Court for resolution. Their case was successful, with the Court ruling that it lacked the authority to impose leadership on another branch of government and asserting that due process must be observed in the removal of a Speaker or any legislative member.
Neufville referenced Black’s Law Dictionary’s definition of due process, which stresses the importance of legal proceedings adhering to established rules and principles. Despite winning in court and gaining support on popular radio stations, Neufville’s group ultimately failed to sway the majority of their colleagues.
“The legitimacy is in the numbers,” he asserted. “The power to make laws rests in the numbers. To conduct legislative business, a quorum is essential, and quorum depends on the numbers.”
Recalling a pivotal moment, Neufville described a breakfast meeting with Speaker Snowe, during which he and Representative Edwin Juah conveyed their exhaustion from the struggle for numbers. The following day, Snowe resigned, and Neufville’s faction joined the majority at the Unity Conference Center.
Concluding his reflections, Neufville emphasized a crucial point: “In legislative politics, the side with more lawmakers will ultimately prevail. The only way Speaker J. Fonati Koffa can maintain his position is by keeping a majority. This entire situation will ultimately resolve through mathematical calculations — the numbers.”
As legislative tensions continue to rise, Neufville’s insights serve as a reminder of the critical role that numbers and majority support play in the political landscape of Liberia.
