By Amos Harris
Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has come under mounting criticism after publicly praising the late Senator Prince Yormie Johnson (PYJ) during the Unity Party’s Nimba County Chapter mobilization launch. Remarks made during the event, held on Saturday, November 29, have quickly overshadowed the party’s mobilization efforts and sparked a national debate over accountability and political leadership.
The rally, which featured a traditional GB festival, was intended to energize the party’s base ahead of its December 6 homecoming, fundraising, and membership drive. Instead of focusing on party mobilization, the Vice President’s comments redirected the national conversation toward Liberia’s troubled past and the ruling party’s controversial alliances.
Addressing party supporters, VP Koung declared that “it is difficult to discuss the victory of the Unity Party without acknowledging the important role played by Senator Johnson,” framing his praise as an act of political “gratitude.” He further invoked a biblical reference to Christ and the ten lepers to emphasize his point.
However, his remarks immediately drew sharp criticism from civil society actors, political commentators, and victims’ advocates who argued that such public glorification of PYJ—a central figure in Liberia’s civil conflict—signals a troubling disregard for national healing.
Prince Yormie Johnson, remembered as a powerful Nimba politician, is also widely known as a former warlord whose actions during the civil war left deep scars across the country. His involvement in the conflict remains a sensitive national issue, and many Liberians still demand accountability for wartime atrocities.
Critics say the Vice President’s comments expose a deeper contradiction within the Unity Party: the struggle to balance political loyalty in the influential Nimba County with the public’s growing demand for ethical leadership and historical accountability.
Opposition voices were swift in their response, insisting that “gratitude” must not be used to sanitize or downplay the controversial legacy of individuals linked to wartime atrocities. They argue that Liberia’s leaders must demonstrate an unequivocal commitment to justice and national reconciliation, not reinforce old political dependencies tied to figures like PYJ.
Prince Johnson’s political influence has long shaped Liberia’s elections. He notably backed former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, then later supported ex-President George Manneh Weah. In the 2023 elections, he endorsed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai—a move widely seen as a decisive factor in the Unity Party’s victory.
As the Unity Party prepares for its upcoming activities, VP Koung’s remarks have injected new tension into the national political climate, raising a pressing question for the administration: Can the ruling party genuinely champion accountability and national healing while publicly honoring one of the civil war’s most controversial figures?
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