—Says He’s Not Big to Say ‘Im Sorry’
IPNEWS: Nimba County Senator Samuel G. Kogar has publicly extended an olive branch and expressed his willingness to apologize to former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa. This political shift follows Kogar’s previous role as a leading figure in the “Majority Bloc” efforts that ultimately led to Koffa’s removal from the leadership of the House of Representatives.
Senator Kogar was heavily involved in the political confrontation and legislative maneuvering that ousted Koffa as Speaker.
During a political gathering, Senator Kogar signaled a major turn toward reconciliation, stating: “I’m not too big to say sorry concerning whatever happened between me and former Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, in the Senator Samuel G. Kogar served as the Chairman of the “Majority Bloc,” the coalition of Liberian lawmakers that successfully orchestrated the removal of former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
During the heightened legislative power struggle at the Capitol Building, Kogar was a primary driving force behind the ousting, even vowing at one point that Koffa would be removed from the speakership “at all cost.”
As the head of the 47-member majority bloc, he coordinated the signed resolution and political maneuvering to unseat Koffa, citing allegations that included conflict of interest and misrepresentation.
Following the intense legislative battle, Kogar—who moved from being a Representative to a Nimba County Senator—faced severe backlash within his own political circle.
Early this month, he was expelled from the Movement for Reconstruction and Development (MDR) party for violating its constitution, a move heavily tied to his defiance and alignment against the party’s stance during the leadership crisis.
Shortly after his expulsion, Senator Kogar publicly de-escalated the situation by extending an olive branch and apologizing to former Speaker Koffa. He stated that he was “not too big to say sorry” for his role in the impasse, declaring that the power struggle had officially concluded and calling for legislative reconciliation
past. I’m not big to say sorry.”
Sources have linked this public reconciliation effort to broader political shifts within the opposition, including the fallout from the passing of Nimba County political figure Prince Y. Johnson and Kogar’s own ongoing disputes and traditional mediation efforts with other national figures like Vice President Jeremiah Koung.
Closed associates of former President George Weah, told the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper say that Former President George Weah and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) initiated the reconciliation efforts following a major political realignment in Liberia by hosting a high-level opposition roundtable that brought together Nimba County Senator Samuel G. Kogar and former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa.
Political pundits believe accepting a public apology from Senator Samuel Kogar carries significant political implications for Liberia’s former House Speaker, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa. Because Senator Kogar served as the chairman and “ringleader” of the majority bloc that successfully orchestrated Koffa’s removal as Speaker, this public gesture reshapes the landscape for both politicians.
Accepting the apology influences Koffa’s political standing in the following ways:
By accepting the apology, Koffa reinforces his public image as a forgiving, institutional leader who prioritizes national and party stability over personal grievances. His political allies, including his former Political Director, have long framed him as a statesman who puts “party before personal differences”. Embracing reconciliation signals to the Liberian electorate that he is mature enough to move past turbulent legislative power struggles to restore institutional normalcy.
Senator Kogar’s public defection and apology heavily undermine the integrity of the anti-Koffa “Majority Bloc”. For Koffa, accepting the apology from the very man who led his ouster serves as a form of political vindication. It publicly highlights cracks within the alliance that removed him, exposing that the effort may have been driven by short-term political maneuvering rather than unified principles.
Senator Kogar is a prominent political figure in Nimba County. Accepting his olive branch allows Koffa and his party, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), to build bridges into a critical, vote-rich region. This is especially true given Kogar’s recent fallout and expulsion from the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), as well as his public spats with Vice President Jeremiah Koung. Aligning with a reconciled Kogar gives Koffa a strategic entry point into Nimba politics ahead of future electoral cycles.
Kogar’s apology coincided with his acceptance of an invitation to a roundtable discussion with the opposition CDC. By formally accepting Kogar’s apology, Koffa clears the path for renewed political dialogue and potential collaboration. If Kogar aligns with the CDC bloc, it significantly boosts Koffa’s legislative influence and helps the opposition reconstruct a formidable base against the current administration. [
The primary risk for Koffa is the potential alienation of his core loyalists. Some supporters and legislative staffers who stood by Koffa during the bitter Capitol Building power struggle view Kogar’s actions as deeply damaging to the country’s governance. For these loyalists, a quick reconciliation might look like political expedience, potentially sparking complaints that the former Speaker is letting the chief architect of his political setback off the hook too easily.
