IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-20 August 2018:Nimba County Senator and Political leader of the Movement for Reconstruction and Development, Senator Prince Y. Johnson, has descended on embattled City Mayor of Bahn, Nimba County, Angie Dopoe, and other former government officials of the city now in opposition, without government jobs.
“If she comes positively and appealed, we can consider her but, when she is aggressive by going behind the opposition members to force us into allowing her maintain power, I will remove her. I have that power, because the President has given it to me. I am very close to the President,”
The comment by Senator Johnson brings to bear recent comments by Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, that ‘anyone wishing to take up government positions in Bong County, must join the ruling party.
It may be recalled, the VP comments did not resonate well with citizens of Bong County, who defeated the supported candidate of the Vice President in apparent disgust to her call.
Senator Johnson in a interview on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, shortly after Reverend Hananiah Zoe, the political leader of the defunct Liberia Educational Development Party, officially crossed carpet to the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), said it is time for Madam Dopoe and others to stop crying foul after leaving government jobs.
Sen. Johnson said that Madam Dopoe has, however, a chance to continue her job, but through a respectful means, “because she is at the mercy of we the ruling party. If she comes positively and appealed, we can consider her but, when she is aggressive by going behind the opposition members to force us into allowing her maintain power, I will remove her. I have that power, because the President has given it to me. I am very close to the President,” he maintained.
The former war-lord turned Pastor, said other than politics, Weah is his son as well as an in-law, “because my feet are firmly rooted to support Weah since he is my in-law. My wife is from Weah’s county of origin [Grand Kru] and, as such, it is my responsibility to help him succeed,” Sen. Johnson said.
While it remain unclear how Senator Johnson now becomes President Weah’s in-law, the Nimba County Senator further stated that all the Legislators from the Southeast, including Senator Geraldine Doe Sheriff, Representative Fonati Koffa, House Speaker Bhofal Chambers, and Senate Pro-Tempore Albert Chie, are his very close friends to whom he owes unflinching support and an undiluted loyalty.
Sen. Johnson’s assertion came following Madam Dopoe’s allegation that he and Nimba Electoral District #7 Representative, Roger Domah, are usurping Executive functions, which are solely ascribed to the office of the President of Liberia.
Madam Dopoe stated that her concerned is not only losing her mayor post, but feared that her life is at risk in case she opts to remain in Nimba any further .
Rep. Domah, on the other hand, has refuted madam Dopoe’s accusation of attempting to take her job away but narrated that recently that he has, at no point in time, interfered with an executive matter unless called on to give an input where necessary.
Domah said that Mayor Dopoe is, by extension, his sister to whom he owes a lot, including job opportunity, once it is within his reach.
“You have been there for long, and have eaten enough. Now is our time to do what we believe is in the best interest of this country,” Senator Johnson said.
The Senator furthermore said once there is a regime change in the governance of the country, it is good for everyone to accept that everything has to change too.
“Government change, everything else change. That person over there (referring to the embattled city mayor) is at the mercy of we the ruling party,” he said.
Johnson said that the decision of the Weah-led government today is to determine what kind of future the country is assured of tomorrow.
Now, with this comment coming from one of Liberia’s most powerful Senators, one might just figure out the consequences hereafter.
