Mr. Nimely believes that the late Senator Johnson died out of fear that Liberia is heading for the establishment of a establishment of a war and economic crimes court.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, December 4, 2024: One of Liberia’s top former rebel generals, Thomas Yaya Nimely, has alleged here that Sen. Prince Yormie Johnson died out of fear that Liberia is heading to the establishment of a war and economic crimes court (WECC).
The late Sen. Johnson headed the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), under whose command then-sitting President Samuel Kanyon Doe was brutally murdered.
The current administration, headed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, has established an office to lead efforts to establish the WECC.
Before his death, Johnson has been bitter about calls to establish the WECC.
But it is not clear what may have caused his death last week.
Meanwhile, Grand Gedeh County Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely, who headed the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) rebel group during Liberia’s civil war, has linked Johnson’s death to the WECC.
Mr. Nimely cited Senator Johnson’s continuous fear, worries, troubles, and pressure he expressed over the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia.
Mr. Nimely made the claim during the Senate plenary session on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, while paying tribute.
On Tuesday, the Liberian Senate dedicated its plenary session to the deceased Nimba County Senator.
According to Mr. Nimely, the fallen Nimba County Senator felt betrayed by the Unity Party government following the passage and President Boakai’s subsequent signing of the resolution for the establishment of the War Crimes Court.
According to him, after Johnson watched the interview with Dr. Alan White, seeking support for the establishment of the court, he sent the interview to him (Nimely) and told him to read and listen to it.
When they got to the Senate the following day, Senator Nimely explained that the late Johnson reminded him about the interview.
Nimely said he informed Sen. Johnson that he had watched the interview and read the information.
‘’Now, he told me that it is troubling. It has always been troubling for this man (Senator Johnson) who has asked for forgiveness. His life has been troubling,” Nimely explained.
“When we signed the resolution here to establish the war crimes court, he did not know.”
“The day we were preparing in the Pro-tempo’s office, he was not there,’’ Senator Nimely added.
When they started the signature right in the Pro-Tempore’s office, Nimely recalled that they told Sen. Johnson that about 29 senators had already signed the resolution for the court.
He detailed that Senator Johnson asked if Senator Nimely had signed the resolution.
Upon responding that he had signed it, Nimely disclosed that Senator Johnson took the paper with his hands trembling and signed the resolution.
‘’Senator Johnson felt let down. He sat here, he never looked at me, neither did he say anything to me,” Nimely recalled.
“When we went home, he called me [at] 10:00, we talked and asked me why I signed the resolution because he was depending on me.”
“I was left dumbfounded and had no answer to give my brother. And I said to him, let it go, and we will work on it,’’ Senator Nimely disclosed.
Accordingly, he believes that Senator Johnson paid his due, so those who are alive and don’t want to forgive him are not God.
‘’As far as I am concerned, he paid his due. I want to tell my Krahn People that Senator Johnson paid his due.”
“How we lead this country to unity and friendship matters right now. And as we can see, we are not leading right. He stated that we have to regroup as a nation and decide what to do next,’’ he stated.
Commenting on Senator Johnson’s opening a church and devoting his time to prayer and fasting, he said that he did that because he was seeking spiritual redemption.
He continued that the fallen Nimba County senator also devoted his time to community service.
According to him, the only way the Senator could do that was to be alive and a president-maker.
He argued that every presidential candidate Sen. Johnson supported in contemporary times or post-war Liberia won overwhelmingly.
‘’Those of you who are Christian in this country, I don’t know how or what it means to be a Christian, neither do I know the definition of Christian.”
“Senator Johnson opened the church because he was seeking spiritual redemption’,’ Senator Nimely argued.
He stated that in the heat of 2005 and 2006, the whole world wanted the establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia.
However, he noted that former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf resisted it because she had a nation to lead and build.
‘’Senator Johnson told former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that I will make you president, but if I make you president, I want you to buy me time.”
“And President Sirleaf said yes. As old as he was, he will get from towns and villages to campaign.”
“She bought time and gave it to him. It was intended for him to use the time and reconcile his soul, and he did,’’ Senator Nimely said.
According to him, the late Senator Johnson did that by constructing schools and contributing positively to the lives and development of the country and his county.
He noted that he even brought educated Nimbaians to work in government.
Further, Nimely stated that Sen. Johnson had the same negotiation with former President George M. Weah, and he had bought time for six years.
When the opposition and others pressured ex-President Weah to establish a war crimes court, Nimely said he refused because former President Sirleaf had not done it.
He said all that was done was to maintain Senator Johnson’s political agreement.
‘’Senator Johnson continued to buy time, preaching and asking for forgiveness.”
” Senator Johnson has been asking God for forgiveness for over twenty-one years. And people are running around, Prince Johnson killed this and did that,” Sen. Nimely noted.
“How many times did Saul pray for forgiveness in the Bible before he was forgiven? Now, it is you that can’t forgive Senator Johnson.’’
