A Patriot’s Diary
With Ekena Nyankun Juahgbe-Droh Wesley
Ever since 2005, Nimba County’s self-proclaimed political godfather, Senator Prince Johnson has emerged as the kingmaker along Liberia’s political landscape. Call him wartime desperado, US-sanctioned culprit or whatever, Senator Johnson’s name will go down in history as a political force to reckon with in Liberia’s post-conflict democratic configuration. For the vast majority of the people of Nimba, Senator Johnson is revered as a ‘freedom fighter while proponents of human rights and aggrieved victims of his alleged extra-judicial killings see him as a beastly warlord.
Senator Johnson’s political might in his native Nimba is unquestionable! At will, he would decide who becomes a representative or senator. The records are there and remain incontestable. Great sons and daughters of Nimba County who challenged Senator Prince Johnson in successive elections were democratically quashed! The Nimba Senator was a decider in the 2005, 2011 and 1017 presidential run-offs that brought former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to power as well as sitting President George Weah to power.
When Nimba County – through the late educator, Jackson F. Doe came close to the rigged 1985 elections, the junta’s leaders’ margin of error was conditioned by the banning of Gabriel Baccus Matthews-led United People’s Party (UPP) and Dr. Amos C. Sawyer-registered – Liberian People’s Party (LPP). Junta-fatigued swayed the electorates into the direction of the Liberia Action Party of Jackson Doe. The NPFL-rebel slain Nimba son was deprived of his victory. Such was a sad history
The irrefutable political trajectory that occasioned the small West African nation in its post-conflict era seemingly re-positioned Nimba County on account of numbers. Surely, numbers do win elections and with such advantage, comes voice for greater say and participation let alone inclusion. Nimba’s numbers have ostensibly placed her in a better negotiating ambit politically. She somewhat seized the moment on the political battlefield.
Lest we forget, Nimba is essentially – mineral-rich as it were. As the second largest county in Liberia, Nimba undoubtedly will demand more at the table. Has Nimba benefited equitably consistent with its massive support in successive post-war elections. Unlike President Weah, former President Sirleaf played Nimba politically amid hand in glove.
When former President Joseph Nyuma Boakai graciously bowed out amid the 2017 post-Supreme Court determination, many reckoned it was in the interest of the greater good. Perhaps the former Vice President reached the conclusion that Liberia is greater than personal ego. That was patriotic indeed. No blood was shed! And a new government was installed.
The so-called new and populist government that came to power became consumed by campaign mood long after its political honeymoon. In less than three months, the once loudmouthed advocates of justice, human rights abuses, misrule, the rule of law, the fight against corruption stumbled. They became stampeded by the trappings of massive looting of the public purse. Opposition voices were silenced! Mysterious and unexplained killings became rife. Liberians started to fear for their lives. Anti-government protests led by the UL-based Student Unification Party (SUP) were violently confronted. The masses became worse off than when their ‘political messiahs’ seized the moment.
President Weah and his government had become beleaguered by incompetence, cluelessness, state-sponsored terrorism and indiscriminate corruption across the broad spectrum. For the first time in Liberia’s history, a sitting government opted to siphon donors’ money. What manner of shame? Weah, the professed ‘best president, since independence committed so grievous a moral indecency against our foreign partners. It amounted to outright shamelessness and a national disgrace to say the least!
Clearly, in all of this, President Weah and his legion of bandits and thugs have unarguably shot themselves in the leg as it were. This is all the reason why the Boakai-Koung ticket stands a better chance. Ambassador Joseph Boakai who suspiciously yet uncharacteristically lost in the 2017, came second. By the incompetence, mischievous deeds and actions of the Weah-led fractured Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), it has laid the basis for catapulting its way out of power disgracefully.
Montserrado County that once seemed the CDC stronghold owing to numbers Weah’s CDC amassed from mainly slum populated areas shifted dramatically. CDC no longer has an edge in the nation’s largest county. Amid Prince Johnson’s categorical support for Boakai, especially in a new marriage – Nimba will fall to the Baokai-Koung ticket. Lofa County – where former Vice President Boakai hails – will perform its usual socio-cultural maneuvers. the people of Lofa refer to themselves as ‘traditionally cohesive.’ Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor is no longer in control of Bong County in the wake of her seemingly controversial sense of divisiveness. The Bassa belt’s renewed commitment following Sunday’s show of solidarity towards the Boakai-Koung ticket speaks volume.
With Liberia’s footballer President – Weah and his CDC already an excess political baggage – clearly the Boakai-Koung ticket amid scientific and unscientific opinion polls could be that alternative that appears to be alarming the new wave of revolution to rescue a country plunged into mess by George Weah and his gang of kleptocratic miscreants. Only time will tell what beholds the Boakai-Koung ticket within the context of the letter and spirit of the Magnitsky Act in light of Prince Johnson’s looming sanction.
