Africa-Press – Liberia. A National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Representative Acarous Moses Gray has threatened that the party will attack Senator Prince Y. Johnson if he (Johnson) continues to attack President George Manneh Weah and his government.
Lawmaker Gray is representing the people of electoral district # 8 in Montserrado County in the 54th National Legislature.
Senator Johnson was the former rebel leader of the notorious rebel group- Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) that captured, humiliated, tortured and killed ex-Liberian President Samuel Kanyon Doe on September 9, 1990.
He is the Founder and political godfather of the MDR, a party he established barely few months to the conduct of the 2017 general and presidential elections. He accumulated 8% of the votes in the first round.
It can be recalled that Senator Johnson endorsed President Weah for the Nov. 7 run-off vote between the former soccer star and ex-Vice President Joseph Boakai.
But recently, he openly announced that his party had withdrawn its support from the CDC.
He claimed that the party has been marginalized by President Weah and his government, and as such the Standard Bearer of the MDR Senator Jeremiah Koung of Nimba County will contest the presidency come October 2023.
Senator Johnson’s position has prompted war of words between him and the President through the use of the Holy Pulpit.
Currently, he’s serving as the Chairman of the National Governing Council of the MDR.
But speaking when he appeared as guest on OK FM 99.5 on Monday, February 6, Representative Gray stated that the withdrawal of Senator Johnson’s support does not threaten the re-election of President Weah.
According to him, Senator Johnson has “nowhere to go.”
He noted that the pressure being mounted against the Nimba County lawmaker by some executives of the MDR will compel him to surrender politically.
Representative Gray said the high level of works being done by the CDC in Nimba and other parts of the country will also compel Senator Johnson to rethink his decision.
He claimed that vast majority of citizens from Nimba and scores of other executives of the MDR are no longer listening to Senator Johnson.
He threatened that executives and supporters of the CDC would “decisively” respond to any attack from Senator Johnson against the government or President Weah following his latest outburst and assassination allegation against the President and his government.
“The President has the authority to appoint who he wants to appoint by the constitution of the Republic of Liberia and (Senator) Prince Johnson has to understand that. And I want to be very clear-I don’t care how people feel; If Prince Johnson attacks the government and the presidency, we will also decisively reciprocate in the same manner.”
“We will not allow anyone, including a member of the coalition to undermine the victory of the coalition. Prince Johnson has nowhere to go. Within his own political party, there is a big faction. We will not allow one person who affiliates with the coalition to undermine the victory of the CDC and we are very clear. We been working in Nimba and Prince Johnson is panicking; he has to surrender. People are no longer listening to Prince Johnson like they used to.”
No more making political participation market day
For being paid to play during electioneering period and accepting extra monies for intelligence services rendered to the Liberian government while serving as a sitting lawmaker, Senator Johnson was sometimes ago sanctioned by the United States government.
However, he has denied the allegations.
But Representative Gray maintained that the CDC stands by the position of its Standard Bearer President Weah and would not offer a dime to anyone, including Senator Johnson to support the CDC ahead of the elections.
“The President has sounded a clear message across. We have picked up that mandate long since. We will not pay anyone to support us. America has sanctioned Prince Johnson and he has to go to exonerate himself. We have done lots of developments in Nimba County and we will not allow anyone to reduce political participation to market day.”
Pack your bag and leave
He said claims raised by Senator Johnson and his party that the government is planning to assassinate him, should not be given credence by anyone.
“Prince Johnson is a man that should not be taken serious. Nobody wants to kill Prince Johnson. We don’t have any political prisoner in this country. But one thing we can say to Prince Johnson and everyone, if you want to leave, you can pack your bags and leave. We are very clear about that. We will win Nimba County decisively.”
Representative Gray maintained that Senator Johnson, who will be canvassing to retain his seat, will be dealt with politically if he continues to continues on the current path.
He claimed that most of those who supported Senator Johnson in the past are currently with the CDC, and as such, he (Johnson) should be alerted that his re-election remains uncertain.
Addressing legitimate issues
Speaking further, Representative Gray called for reconciliation among executives and stalwarts of the original three political parties that make up the coalition as part of efforts to ensure a first round victory for President George Manneh Weah in the October 2023 elections.
The CDC comprises of the Congress for Democratic Change, Liberian People Democratic Party (LPDP) and the former ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP).
It can be recalled that prior to the nomination of President George Weah to contest for a second term by supporters and partisans of the CDC on February 4, the Standard Bearer of the LPDP Alex Tyler disassociated his party from the event.
Recently, the Chairman of the NPP Senator James Biney of Maryland County also announced that there is no coalition as evidenced by the expiration of the agreement which brought the three parties together in 2017.
Executives of the two parties have earlier sounded a warning of boycotting the February 4 event and withdraw from the Coalition due to alleged marginalization from the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) of President Weah.
But Representative Gray observed that the current happenings relative to maintaining the coalition remain an issue of major concern.
He said despite the contentions, the relevant authorities of both the LPDP and the NPP affixed their signatures to the nomination documents over the week end.
He disclosed that the Chairman of the LPDP, Charles Gibson of the Ministry of Labor signed the nomination documents, even though his party’s Political Leader, Mr. Tyler earlier disassociated the party from the event.
Representative Gray maintained that it is now time for differing issues and legitimate concerns within the party to be addressed.
“I don’t think so (that issues within the coalition will threaten our second term bid). I will not use any harsh words on members of the LPDP and the NPP-but, what I can say is that, the legitimate signatures of the coalition signed the documents from the three political institutions.”
Representative Gray observed that there were issues that prevented Mr. Tyler from signing the document.
He maintained that though there are differences within the CDC, those issues pose no threat to the existence of the coalition or the re-election of President Weah.
He justified that the presence of the Standard Bearer of the NPP, who is also the Vice Standard Bearer of the coalition, at the nomination program of President Weah is a clear indication that the NPP remains within the party.
“The Chairman of the LPDP who is now the Labor Minister affixed his signature to that document. That is an endorsement. I will not frown on former Speaker Tyler; maybe there are some legitimate concerns he may have and we will address those concerns. In every revolution, there will be a time where some people will leave or stay; even some people will be recruited and some people will replace them. But we are still open up to holding discussion with everyone having disagreement.”
Investing in education
Meanwhile, Representative Gray has observed that extreme poverty and hardship in Liberia cannot be tackled without investment in education.
He added that though Liberians have been battling poverty for several decades in the country, the availability of the menace under the CDC led-government has been misconstrued by others for political and personal reasons.
He said as part of efforts to address the situation, the government continues to make interventions, including the passage of a Domestic Violence Bill to protect women and girls in the Liberian society.
“We have to address the elements of poverty. If people are not educated, they cannot redeem themselves from poverty. Poverty is not just eating rice tomorrow morning or bulgur wheat; no. Education is redemption for poverty. This government has provided free tuition to public high schools and universities students to encourage them to go to school and be able to redeem themselves and the country. And so, the elements of poverty are being addressed. There is nothing of extreme poverty than lack of education.”
He maintained that road construction, the provision of housing units and the supply of electricity to additional slum communities are also part of efforts to combat against poverty in Liberia.
Representative Gray emphasized that it is unfortunate for critics of the government to believe that the CDC administration has not done enough to retain the presidency.
He claimed that unprecedented and indelible initiatives, including the construction of roads, hospitals, markets, among others have been undertaken by the current administration to help address some of the constraints confronting Liberians.
He said latest reports accusing the government of failing on its promises made to the Liberian people are exaggerations that should not be accepted.
“We will not dignify that we didn’t fulfill over 200 promises from someone who is being paid by political opponents; what we are focusing on is the forward match of the country, our re-election and a one round victory.”
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