Several elders, chiefs, zoes, youths and women of Lofa County have reportedly withdrawn their support from the Unity Party (UP), headed by their kinsmen, Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai, following a leaked audio of Nimba County Senator, Prince Y. Johnson, in which he revealed that they are “fighting for Nimba to take the lead”, as Boakai is old and will not be capable to go anywhere.
The statement comes only a month to the October 10 general and presidential elections, describing Prince Johnson’s leaked statement as a devilish and dangerous plan that is not in the interest of democracy or Lofa County; rather, a coup d’état in the making.
Lofa County, home of Ambassador Boakai and Unity Party’s perceived strongest hold, is reportedly headed to the political camp of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), with the people of the county expressing deep concern and worry about the devilish and dangerous plan by a former warlord, whom they said is on record for killing the late Samuel Kanyon Doe, a democratically elected President.
The statement of the prominent Lofa citizens said, “We the prominent citizens of Lofa County made of elders, chiefs, zoes, and youth attention have been drawn to a damaging leaked audio which reveals plans by Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson to eliminate Joseph Boakai if their ticket should emerge winner of the October 2023 election.”
In the said audio, Prince Johnson is quoted as saying, “We’re fighting for Nimba County to take the lead and Nimba will win in the name of Jesus. Bassa is with us, Gbarpolu with us, Bomi with us, Lofa with us, Bong County with us. What is your problem? And you’re on the radio on me?
“My brother, what have I done? You got to change,” Senator Johnson added, “We’re fighting for you. When y’all turn to this man [Weah] against our prayer for Nimba to produce Vice President – this old man is old, he took Koung to be his Vice President. When he wins, isn’t it Koung that would be doing the job for him? Can he go everywhere? No!”
According to the Lofa citizens, “This statement from Senator Johnson shows that, instead of Nimba supporting Lofa to the presidency, it is a son of Nimba who wants to use the people of Nimba to assassinate Unity Party Standard Bearer, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who is a son of the county.
“We the citizens of Lofa, despite our political differences, are deeply concerned and worried about such devilish and dangerous plan by a former warlord, who is on record for killing the Late Samuel Kanyon Doe, a democratically elected President.
“While it is true that there has been a serious question raised about the declining health status of the former Vice President, evidenced by recent minor stroke he suffered and was admitted at the ELWA hospital and was flown abroad, we strongly believe that Boakai’s inner circle is aware that he is unfit to stir the affairs of the country beyond 2023, but are bent on using him for their selfish gains.
“Now that it is clear that the JNB-JKK ticket is not democracy and Lofa but rather coup de tat in the making, we the citizens of Lofa on today declare the county’s full support to the 2nd-term bid of President George Manneh Weah, a man whose presidency has made Lofians to know that power should only be given to those who think about improving the lives of the people and not to selfish politicians who ride on tradition.
“This support we will go at any length to make a success by giving President Weah one-round victory come October 10, 2023.”
The Prince Johnson’s leaked audio is said to be creating discontentment in the Unity Party Alliance, with several individuals and groupings becoming cautious of the folks from the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR).
Information emanating from Lofa County is that Jarwoli Jimmy, Chairlady of the Friends of JNB in Lofa County in 2017, who also presided over seventeen groups and vigorously campaigned for Boakai in 2017, has directed her groups’ support to Weah’s second term.
According to the information, Jimmy’s action was also prompted by PYJ’s leaked audio, which she, too, described as devilish and unacceptable.
