Sons of Nimba are expected to troop into Nimba over the weekend to see off the late Sen. Prince Y. Johnson, who is regarded as a kingmaker and hero by his kinsmen.
By: Our staff reporter
Tuesday, January 14, 2025/Former President George Weah said Monday that he would attend the Funeral activities of former Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson.
Nimbians here have threatened to resist the former Liberian Leader for his refusal to extend a handshake to Vice President Koung and fellow Nimba kinsmen, something they describe as gross disrespect and provocations.
But Speaking to Journalists on Capitol Hill, shortly after signing the Book of Condolence for the late Prince Johnson, Mr. Weah vows to attend the Funeral Service of the late Sen. Johnson as a former head of State of Liberia and an ally to the falling Nimba County hero.
“As a son of Nimba County” I will be there,” he said, adding, “In fact, I’m a former Senator of the Republic of Liberia and my colleague past, and “I got to be there.”
Mr. Weah’s comments come contrary to the report that he would have skipped the funeral service of former Sen. Johnson due to criticisms over a handshake he exchanged with Vice President Koung in November when he first went to the home of the late Sen. Johnson to sympathize with the bereaved family.
The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Standard Bearer last November 2024 came under the bullet for his refusal to extend a handshake to VP Koung and Rep. Samuel Kogar when he went to sympathize with family members at the fallen senator’s residence in Paynesville.
Mr. Weah has since defended his action, explaining that he has nothing against Vice President Koung and that his gesture to hold his hands to his chest rather than extending them to VP-Koung was just another form of salutation and acknowledgment to a colleague.
“I have nothing against Vice President Koung; he is my little brother. Koung was supposed to come and hug me when he saw me coming from out of my car, chest to chest”, Mr. Weah said at the time.
But despite his clarification on the avoided handshake with Vice President Koung, a group of Nimbaians under the banner Rescue Intellectual Brigade for Vice President Jeremiah Koung and late Sen.Johnson, at the time declared that Mr. Weah’s safety was uncertain in Nimba during the funeral activities of Sen. Johnson.
The group, through its Chairperson, Mr. Bilton B. Leaslah, had threatened unspecific traditional actions against Mr. Weah if the former President dare defied them and appear at the funeral of the late Sen. Johnson.
The Rescue Intellectual Brigade for VP. Koung and the late Sen. Johnson, at the time, described Mr. Weah’s action as a provocation and perpetual disrespect to their kinsman.
“We are not preventing former President Weah from entering Nimba; we are saying that he should stay away from our father’s funeral because he has not come to sympathize with us but led provocations,” the group said in November 2024.
But Mr. Weah insists he will be at Sen. Johnson’s funeral in Nimba over the weekend.
“I’m a son of Nimba County; why wouldn’t I be there to honor a good person who has served this country? In fact, I’m a former President and a former Senator. Additionally, this is someone who worked for the country and as a son of Nimba. Who is going to stop me from going to Nimba,” Mr. Weah reiterated.
Former President Weah would later retrospect on the Life and Legacy of the late Nimba County Senator Johnson while reflecting on their days as Senators.
“I had the opportunity to work with him at the ECOWAS, where I led our parliamentary team. We worked very well in the interest of Liberians, and of course, we are allies. We went on campaigns together and were very good friends,” he added.
Meanwhile, what remains uncertain is whether Nimbaians will still resist or deny the former Liberian leader.
Senator Johnson is expected to be buried on Saturday, January 18, 2025, after a series of funeral activities, leading from the Book of Condolence to departure to Nimba County on Wednesday. Senator Johnson died on November 28, 2024, at the Women of Hope Hospital in Paynesville. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah
