Editorial: The Johnson-Koung Alleged Worsening Relationship Affecting The UP And Its Chances Of Victory

SENATOR PRINCE Y. Johnson retired himself from the leadership of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), organized an election and supported Senator Jeremiah Koung for the Standard Bearer position of the party. Senator Koung ran for the position unopposed, was declared winner and received the blessing of Senator Johnson. Senator Johnson recommended him to Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai, Standard Bearer of the Unity Party (UP), for his running mate slot, which he accepted immediately and the announcement made in the following days.   

UP TO A month ago, a cordial relationship subsisted among members of the alliance between the UP and the MDR, with Senator Johnson becoming the focal person of the new collaboration. Senator Johnson appeared on talk shows to defend the ticket, rebut the negative feedbacks and used his pulpit to project the ticket to the Liberian people. Unfortunately, this relationship has short-lived, with the Johnson-Koung relationship allegedly worsening and affecting the UP and its chances of victory.      

SOURCES WHO PREFERRED anonymity told the Hot Pepper that the misunderstanding between senators Johnson and Koung has allegedly so deepened that Koung is no longer taking calls from Johnson, lest to mention seeking political advice. According to the sources, the problem became visible when the United States government denied Koung a visa to accompany Ambassador Boakai on his current visit to the United States of America.

KOUNG, THE SOURCES alleged, sees the visa denial as a result of his affiliation to the renowned warlord, Prince Johnson, who is on the US Global Magnisky sanctions and whom the US has urged the public not to do business with.

IT IS ALLEGED that Koung has been making strange decisions without consulting Senator Johnson, with some of the decisions being detrimental to the MDR. One of such allegations is the decision to allow the UP to feed candidates in Nimba where it is believed their candidate has political strength over their opponents.

HOWEVER, THE ALLEGATIONS of influencing the UP list against MDR in Nimba and Koung’s refusal to take calls from Prince Johnson have all been denied by an aide to Koung, who asked for protection. But Senator Johnson has allegedly taken serious exception to what he considered a “backstab” by his political son, whom he trusted and handpicked for the 2023 political journey.

IT IS REPORTED that Senator Prince Johson and top members of the MDR were absent from the Unity Party unveiling ceremony on Friday, July 28, 2023. All these furies are happening again at the conspicuous silence of the UP Standard Bearer, Joseph N. Boakai, which critics have termed a display of ineptitude and political insensitivity.

POLITICAL PUNDITS, WHO see Ambassador Boakai as the person with the requisite qualification, experience and numerical strength to challenge Weah at the ballot, are becoming critical of Ambassador Boakai’s silence, which they see as unhealthy for the party at this critical time. They called for Boakai’s immediate intervention before the situation becomes a hindrance to their October 10 victory, noting that the Liberian people are still hopeful of being rescued from the alleged “kleptocracy” of the Weah administration.