Koukou Handles NTLA Gavel
By: Lewis K. Glay
Forum
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
Acting Speaker Koukou made the promise recently in the joint chamber at the Capitol, when he addressed his colleagues following his victory with a total point of 39 votes over his rival Fayah Gborlee who secured 4 votes.
The new head of the Parliament said, Liberia was now leading to real transformation
as was demonstrated by an uncompromised anti-corruption advocacy at the
National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA).
He reminded his fellow compatriots and the Liberian nation at large that
leaders are supposed to be “slaves and servants” of the governed
and not “masters”.
This, he said, was the reason why principled-minded lawmakers including himself took the stance to champion the cause of change at the Parliament, especially when its leadership fell short of maintaining sanctity at the first branch of government.
Acting Speaker Koukou assured his colleagues that the present leadership will not allow hooliganism to prevail at the NTLA. “We are all equal; it is just the matter that somebody has to take the leadership and maintain its affairs”, he said.
He said what they did which resulted into the indefinite suspension of the NTLA leadership led by suspended Speaker George Dweh was not an antagonism against anybody but rather it was meant for the real things to be done thereby restoring dignity to that august Body.
The acting Speaker also noted that for the past twenty five years, plenary has been the sole authority of the Legislature and as such, his leadership is mandated to implement the policies of the NTLA with the full cooperation of his fellow lawmakers.
He urged all assembly members be it those who might have differed with the anti-corruption campaign as well as those who stood firm to effect a change, to work as a “team” in the interest of the Liberian people.
On the issue of an injunction from the Supreme Court to halt the current leadership function, acting Speaker Koukou, via phone, told this paper that he was not in the position to comment on court matter. “This is a long journey”, he noted.
