MONROVIA – A lawmaker from Nimba County, Representative Taa Zogbe Wongbe, has sharply criticized the House of Representatives following the controversial expulsion of his colleague, Representative Yekeh Kolubah.
By Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com
Rep. Wongbe made it clear that he did not support the decision to remove Rep. Kolubah and insisted that he did not sign any resolution backing the action.
He acknowledged that Rep. Kolubah’s recent comments regarding Liberia’s border tensions were reckless and irresponsible, but maintained that the process leading to his expulsion was neither lawful nor consistent with principles of good governance.
Rep. Kolubah was expelled Friday after making controversial statements about Liberia’s border situation, which were widely condemned by fellow lawmakers and interpreted by some as “undermining national security”, leading to serious accusations, including claims bordering on treason.
However, Rep. Wongbe argued that while Rep. Kolubah’s remarks deserved criticism, they did not justify what he described as a flawed and politically influenced removal process.
The Nimba lawmaker expressed deep frustration with the current state of governance, claiming that after nearly two and a half years in the Legislature, he has reached the conclusion that power is heavily centralized in the Executive.
According to him, decisions within the country increasingly reflect the will of the President rather than independent institutional processes.
He asserted that if the President wants a lawmaker removed, that outcome is achieved, and if the President desires changes in leadership or action against individuals and institutions, those decisions are carried out without resistance.
Rep. Wongbe said this reality raises serious concerns about the role of the Legislature, which he described as being reduced to a body that merely approves and legitimizes decisions already made elsewhere.
He suggested that the relevance of the Legislature itself should be reconsidered, going as far as proposing that it may need to be dissolved entirely if it continues to function without independence.
He described the situation as a hard truth that many are unwilling to confront and called on Liberians to open their eyes to what he believes is the erosion of genuine democratic governance.
Despite his criticism, Rep. Wongbe emphasized that his primary focus remains on serving the people of District Nine in Nimba County and fulfilling his mandate as their elected representative.
He stated that his political future will ultimately be decided by the people he serves at the end of his term, reinforcing his commitment to accountability at the constituency level.
The expulsion of Rep. Kolubah continues to generate debate across Liberia, with growing concerns about due process, separation of powers, and the independence of key democratic institutions.
