-Weeping VP Koung reveals in tribute
Vice President Jeremiah Koung recounts his journey to the Liberian Presidency under the tutelage or guidance of late Senator Prince Yormie Johnson.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia, January 15, 2025 –Vice President Jeremiah Koung says fallen Senator Prince Y. Johnson had promised to make him (Koung) President of Liberia, revealing that on series of engagements, the late Senator Johnson told him that he had prepared him for the Presidency of the country.
Giving a heartbreaking tribute here Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at the Capitol Building during the state funeral for the late Senator, Vice President Koung continues that after PYJ lifted his hand in Nimba and made him elected twice in the House and as Senator, the late political godfather told him to get prepared for the Presidency.
According to the Vice President, when the late Senator Johnson told him so, he underestimated his commitment because he was not thinking in that direction on the grounds of how Senator Johnson would want to make him his leader.
Both VP Koung and the late PYJ hail from the same county and were close political allies to the extent that he made him become the standard bearer of his political party, Movement for Development and Reconstruction (MDR), propelled Koung to have been chosen by President Boakia as running mate in 2023.
“In 2010, around November and December, getting ready to come for a session, I got a call from Melvin Yealue; when I picked up the call, he told me to talk to Senator Johnson. Senator Johnson talked to me and said Jerry, and I answered yes; he said that you are grown, get ready to be President of Liberia. He said President, and I replied to him, President, for what? And he said again, President for Liberia. I took it for joke and thought he was happy that morning”, VP Koung reflects.
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, members of the Liberian Senate and the House of Representatives graced by sympathizers, well-wishers, and the people of Nimba County commemorated the lying in state of the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson.
He was the longest-serving senator of Liberia, serving as Chair of Defense, National Security, and Veteran Affairs. He was also a former Representative to the ECOWAS Parliament and former chairperson of the Nimba County Legislative Caucus, respectively.
The Ex-warlord was born July 6, 1952, and died on November 28, 2024, at his residence in Paynesville, outskirts of Monrovia.
According to Vice President Koung, from the way he answered, the late Senator Johnson asked him if he was afraid, but he says he told him no, and later, when he came to the session, PYJ again called him to his place, and told him to run for the Liberian Presidency.
“Senator Johnson called me to his house and told me to run for the Presidency. He told me he has grown me because he wants me to be after him, and Nimba is empty. If you don’t run, Nimba could lose because he (PYJ) is not running for the presidency but rather for his senatorial seat. And so, I must fill in the gap. Senator Johnson told me that he will resign from the party and I will take over the party as Political leader and standard bearer. He told me that he is old and has tried the presidency two times, and the Liberian people said no and ‘so, let me try you.’ He quoted his late political mentor as saying.
However, according to him, he told the late senator that issues that had to do with the standard bearership should be removed, while the political leader remains because it came as a surprise without discussion and preparedness, and he never trusted Senator Johnson’s statement. However, the VP adds that when the issue got to the press, he didn’t confirm it because Senator Johnson could flip-flop; therefore, he was careful.
“But, I didn’t know Senator Johnson was serious about this. Senator Johnson, as we all know, is a chicken, and when he crows, no other person should crow. Now, why does he want me to be his leader? Later, when we got to Ganta City, Senator Johnson cast the white ballot and said that he was old and Senator Koung would take it from there and continue. After that, we got to Monrovia, and I got a call from former Vice President and now President Joseph N. Boakai.”
He says President Boakai told him that he wanted to meet with him, and when they met, the now President told him that he needed his support for the Presidency, which he (Koung) promised to give, but first, he would discuss with PYJ, noting that when he told the late Senator, that former Vice President Boakai called him and asked for his support, the late Johnson agreed that they should support Boakai for the Presidency but that he (PYJ) had not spoken with Boakai since 2017 and so, he needed his number to start conversation.
“I gave his number, and Senator Johnson called him about three times, but he didn’t answer, so it’s like he has been angry with him since 2017. Later, they both spoke, and he was upfront and said, take my son, and we will support you. President Boakai is someone who likes to do things, and nobody should push him. And said, senator, I heard you, but I will make my decision.” Koung further narrates his journey to the Vice Presidency.
He adds that after the conversion, President Boakai called him, and he (Koung) promised to support him, but he never had any idea of becoming Vice President, but that was the late Senator Johnson’s quest because PYJ was someone who didn’t beat around the bush with diplomacy on what he wanted.
“Senator Johnson called the Nimba Kwardo people and cried, begging them to support me. 2017, we all know the story; Senator Johnson is somebody who, when you are in Kakata now, called him and say I have your 5k. He will come for it. Millions were made available to him. He said no. This is a mission; I will complete this mission, and if I die, I will die a happy man. There are videos of some of the things I am saying. We went to every village and town in Nimba, and I am here today. Senator, thank you,” he expresses his gratitude as he ends his tribute to the man who influenced him to ascend to the second highest seat of the land.
Meanwhile, all roads to the economic district of Ganta, Nimba County, birthplace of the late Sen. Johnson, where he will be interred following traditional rites. Editing by Jonathan Browne
