–But past Utterances Show the Senator’s Inconsistencies
IPNEWS-Nimba County: Elders of Nimba County have pledged their commitment to the re-election of President George Weah in 2023.
During a brief meeting with Elders and Traditional Leaders of the County, Senator Prince Johnson assured the Liberian leader that Nimba County is reserved for him.
The Elders presented cash, 2-cows along with several goats to him as appreciation for his massive development across County.
Cross-section of Nimbians in Nimba County at the endorsement program for President Weah 2023 re-election bid
“Nimba is for you 2023”, Senator Prince Johnson assured President Weah.
Making remarks President Weah thanked the Elders and the people of Nimba for extraordinary support towards his government.
The Liberian leader reiterated his government’s political will to develop the County.
PYJ Supported Weah in 2017 Second Round Election
Former Liberian warlord Prince Johnson in 2017 endorsed George Weah for president ahead of a Nov. 7 run-off vote between the former soccer star and then Vice President Joseph Boakai.
Flashback: Senator PYJ in 2017 campaigns for Senator Weah of the CDC in the run-off
Johnson took more than 8 percent of votes in the first round and his support is seen as a crucial boost for Weah, who won 38.4 percent, shy of the 50.1 percent needed to win outright in one round.
Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson Laments Supporting Weah’s Election
In February 2020 barely two years into the Weah’s administration, Senator Prince Johnson of Nimba County declared that he regretted rallying the vote-rich county of Nimba, in support of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) during the 2017 Presidential Run-off Election, which was between then Senator George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai of Unity Party (UP).
As a demonstration of his disappointment in the ruling Coalition, the Nimba County lawmaker, who is regarded as the ‘Godfather’ of the county, walked out of the Senate’s confirmation proceedings for a new Superintendent of Nimba County. President George Weah, few weeks ago, appointed Mr. Nelson N. Korquoi, who is to replace outgoing Dorr Cooper. Cooper is said to be a supporter of Sen. Johnson.
The Senator’s walked out action Tuesday, February 18, was in protest to Pres. Weah’s decision to nominate a new superintendent without consulting members of the county’s legislative caucus, specifically him (Johnson) and his other colleague in the Senate.
Flashback: CDC candidate senator Weah on a campaign trail supported by senator PYJ in 2017
“I don’t want confusion; you all know the level of work I did in Nimba to get President Weah elected. In 2005 and 2011, the people of Nimba didn’t vote for CDC. In 2017, everything almost went to the other candidate; my support for the CDC brought the victory,” Sen. Johnson said.
Nimba County, according to the 2008 National Housing and Population Census, had a population of about 462,026. From the National Elections Commission (NEC) 2017 statistics, Nimba had a voting population of 279,601, of this number, 200,791 votes were cast in the county.
Despite the presence of 20 Presidential candidates in that 2017 presidential race, the Unity Party was led by Vice President Joseph Boakai and Senator Weah, who headed the CDC, were inarguably the heavy weights in that elections, but still Senator Johnson was overwhelmingly voted for by kinsmen and women in Nimba.
He attained 107,430 votes of the 200,791 votes that were cast. That constituted 53.5% of the overall votes in the county. The margin between Senator Johnson and Vice President Boakai, who came out second in Nimba was a 67,466 difference. VP Boakai obtained 39,964 votes.
Weah’s performance in Nimba was dismal despite coming out third in the county. He earned 16,002 votes (8%).
Senator Johnson’s political performance in Nimba has always been splendid; so he endorsing anyone was a very good prospect for that person. When he lifted candidate Weah’s hand in Nimba, it became a done deal and Weah won overwhelmingly in the runoff.
Sen. Johnson thinks the happy time he had with the CDC is now over based on what the President did by not consulting with him before appointing a new superintendent.
“I don’t want confusion; you all know the level of work I did in Nimba to get President Weah elected. In 2005 and 2011, the people of Nimba didn’t vote for CDC. In 2017, everything almost went to the other candidate; my support for the CDC brought the victory.” – Senator Prince Y. Johnson.
‘2023 Elections Will Be Rigged By the CDC-Led Government’ – Senator Prince Johnson Predicts
In November 2021, As Liberians crave for a peaceful general and presidential elections come 2023, a former rebel leader and now a senator in the Liberian Senate, Prince Y. Johnson predicted that the CDC-led government of President George Weah will rig the upcoming 2023 general and presidential elections by all means to stay in power.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with an online platform – GNN Liberia, on the social media, Senator Johnson who is also the founder and head pastor of the Chapel of Faith Ministries, said prophetical speaking he is a man of God, and also repeated that the 2023 elections will be rigged, stressing, “2023 will be rigged by this government, and that will bring the civilian and this government into confrontation; I see more demonstrations in 2023, if this don’t happen what I am telling you, don’t believe me, ” Senator Johnson vowed during the interview.
Senator PYJ and Senator Weah on a campaign trail in 2017 for the run-off election
When ask, as to why members of the Senate are not helping to solve the prevailing situation in the country which has led the citizenry to be in fear, Senator Johnson said, “We are doing our best. We advise, we cannot take the cow to the water and force it to drink,” Senator Johnson said.
Speaking further, the Nimba County Senator said, “If I was president I will prioritize salaries; salaries will put food on the people’s tables, look how we the Senators have not taken pay for months, I am disappointed, my people are crying,” Senator Johnson in a rather frustrated state of mind added.
Senator Johnson reflecting on the 2017 general and presidential elections results which brought the CDC-led government to power said it was also rigged, stressing, “There was massive rigging during this gone (2017) elections,” Senator Johnson with laughter in the background revealed.
With this latest revelation of a pending elections rigging come 2023 from a former rebel leader, Liberians including members of the opposition community are worried over such statement, expressing fear of such revelation coming from a famous rebel leader-turned politician and religious leader.
US Sanctions former Warlord now Senator Prince Johnson – Will it Affect His Support for Weah in2023?
In December 9, 2021, the US treasury issued sanctions against Liberian Senator Prince Johnson for corruption. The senator is one of 15 people and organisations sanctioned in recognition of International Anti-Corruption Day.
Senator Prince Johnson is a former warlord and leader of the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia – one of the major warring factions during the country’s first civil war.
After the war, Senator Johnson joined politics, running for senate in 2005. He won and has retained his senate seat till today.
In its statement, the US Treasury alleged that Senator Johnson “is involved in pay-for-play funding with government ministries and organisations for personal enrichment. As part of the scheme, upon receiving funding from the Government of Liberia (GOL), the involved government ministries and organisations launder a portion of the funding for return to the involved participants.”
Senator PYJ in red hat and his Nimba kinsmen. Will he be able to convince to re-elect now that he is on US sanction?
The Treasury statement also accuses Senator Johnson of offering the sale of votes in multiple Liberian elections in exchange for money and for receiving a government salary as an intelligence source even though he does not provide any form of intelligence reporting to the GOL. The statement says further that “Johnson is reportedly being paid in order to maintain domestic stability”.
The sanctions would include blocking of properties, property interests and entities owned directly or indirectly by Johnson in the US. In response to the sanctions, Senator Johnson said the “statement of allegations against him are vague because it does not present facts that he had been involved in corruption”. He instead requested that the US government provide evidence.
This sanction follows a May 2021 statement issued by the US embassy in Liberia condemning Senator Johnson’s election as then chair of the Liberian Senate Committee on Defence and Intelligence, and refusing to work with him in his capacity as chairman due to his gross human right abuses committed during Liberia’s civil war.
Following the statement by the US embassy, Johnson resigned from his position as chair of the senate committee on Defence weeks later.
Fighting corruption in Liberia
In Liberia, there have been numerous reports of corruption linked to government or government officials. Public confidence in the government and its anti-corruption agencies is also low. According to the ‘2021 State of Corruption Report’ from the Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), nine in 10 people think corruption is high in Liberia and two thirds of people think the government is not committed to fighting corruption.
President Weah has stated that his government is committed to fighting corruption at the highest level, but most of the individuals mentioned in anti-graft reports have evaded prosecution.
Liberia’s current state is due in part to its non-implementation of its anti-corruption laws. However, the chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has defended his commission record saying they do not have prosecutorial powers to take cases to court, but have to report to the ministry of justice that takes the case on behalf of the government.
Going by precedent, despite the sanctions and accusations of corruption, Senator Johnson would most likely not face any prosecution and repercussions locally. In 2020, the US Treasury sanctioned another Liberian senator, Varney Sherman, on allegations of corruption. However, Sherman was never prosecuted and maintained his position as chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions.
Political Power and Influence
Johnson wields significant political power as the senator of Nimba County, one of Liberia’s most populous counties. Dubbed the kingmaker, his endorsement of a candidate in the second round of three elections gave them enough significant votes to ascend to the presidency.
Senator Johnson is a key political ally of President George Weah and has endorsed him ahead of the presidential elections. Reciprocating, Weah’s ruling party – the Coalition for Democratic Change – does not field candidates against Senator Johnson or his candidates in Nimba.
The Liberian senatorial and presidential elections are scheduled for 2023, but Johnson might not face prosecution or political consequences locally due to the political power he wields.
Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, a Liberian researcher and political analyst, echoes similar sentiments. “I am not sure what difference this sanction would make for Johnson’s political capital locally. He intends to run for the Senate again in 2023, and he is likely to win, even though he will face a tough challenge,” he says.
I am also not saying that they won’t be corrupt, but that they will be mindful and not brazen about it.
Even so, he notes that the sanctions have some effect locally. “The importance of the sanction, however, is that it sends a message to other corrupt politicians in Liberia. First it was Varney Sherman, now Johnson; the rest of them will now be cautious of what they do. I am also not saying that they won’t be corrupt, but that they will be mindful and not brazen about it.”
The fight against corruption has seen some boost in recent times. In his speech on 10 December, President Weah showed support towards the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission efforts to have the legislature amend its act and grant it direct prosecutorial powers. The commission has also pushed for a special court for corruption issues. Many hope that these efforts will help curb corruption in Liberia.
