Ganta, Nimba County – Dubbed the biggest kingmaker in presidential elections in Liberian politics since 2005, Nimba County Senator and strongman, Prince Y. Johnson (MDR, Nimba) today introduced his new political ally, fellow Senator George Weah (CDC, Montserrado County to his hometown, Nimba County, a day after endorsing the football legend-turned lawmaker as his choice in the November 7, 2017 Presidential runoff election.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
In 2011, Johnson broke the hearts of Weah and his supporters when he declared his support for the ruling Unity Party during the runoff.
Johnson’s declaration of support to the Unity Party with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as standard bearer demoralized the CDC and led to the party boycotting the runoff election that year.
Similar political situation again resurfaced after the October 10 first round of polling where the CDC acquired 38% of the total votes followed by the UP with 28%.
With the stage now set for the runoff, all eyes were once again focused on Johnson, the political kingmaker, to have in his say in the process.
Hopes were high that Johnson could have supported the Unity Party and Vice President Joseph Boakai based on his showering of praises on Boakai over the last few months and his expressing of negativity against Weah but on Thursday, Johnson let the cast out of the bag when he endorsed Weah.
A day later, Senators Weah, Johnson arrived in Nimba County to a heroes’ welcome as thousands of Nimbaians lined to the route to welcome them.
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They formed long queues along the route while Pehn-pehn riders displayed their various skills to display their happiness.
Supporters of Senator Johnson chanted “Change” while others danced before the convoy.
The entire Ganta City was agog as Senators Johnson and Weah appeared waving to the public.
Senator Johnson, addressing citizens of Nimba refuted suggestions that he received US$2 million to endorse Weah.
“It is not about money but is about someone who has the ability to lead this country,” he said.
Senator Johnson said he decided to choose Weah over Vice President Joseph Boakai because he believes Weah has the ability to lead Liberia than Boakai.
“It is not time for “Sleepy Joe” referring to Joseph Boakai. We don’t need continuity with the Unity Party,” he added.
Senator Johnson also said that his decision to support Weah was in consonance with the Ganta declaration which calls for the opposition to unite against the incumbent Unity Party.
“There was no means I would have gone against the Ganta declaration which I crafted,” he added.
In response, a visibly elated Weah lauded the people of Nimba and said Senator Johnson’s endorsement of his candidacy is the beginning of peace and reconciliation.
“Today marks a new day for not just the people of Nimba and Grand Gedeh but Liberia,” he said. “
“I want to extend thanks to Senator Johnson for this great endorsement. This endorsement means a lot for Liberia’s peace and reconciliation.”
Over the last two presidential elections, the CDC did not performed well in Nimba but has been strong in the county’s next-door neighbors, Grand Gedeh, the home of late President Samuel Kanyon Doe.
Visible strains between the two counties have made it difficult for Weah and the CDC to win both counties in the last three elections, a trend some hope could change this time around.
Many will be watching to see how Senator Johnson’s endorsement of Weah change the political game in the county.
Nimba is a vote rich county which besides Senator Johnson has gone the way of Unity Party during the last two presidential elections.
During the first round of voting Nimba voted Senator Johnson first and the Unity Party second with the CDC getting just about 3% of the votes from the county.
Together with Lofa County, Nimba helped to force the election into a runoff after Weah and the CDC won 12 counties and thought they were heading for a first round victory but as the votes were tallied from Nimba and Lofa counties that mindset vanished in thin air.
With the CDC support in the Southeastern counties looking unlikely to diminish anytime soon and Lofa most likely firmed on voting its son, Vice President Boakai, Nimba is a decider during the runoff and as such any votes accumulated by the CDC from the county will be a huge advantage setting the party on the road to State power.
Although Senator Johnson’s endorsement of Weah and the CDC continues to draw mixed reactions in Nimba County with some prominent citizens from the county insisting that they will not vote for the CDC based on Senator Johnson’s decision, but the Nimba strongman is still very popular in the county and command large followers.
Within the coming few days, the reception of the CDC campaign along with PYJ in Nimba could give the Unity Party more reasons to worry on how to overcome the CDC on November 7 according to political observers.
In 2011, Johnson ran in the presidential election as the candidate of the newly formed National Union for Democratic Progress party, placed third, with 11.6% of the vote; His support to incumbent Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was crucial to Sirleaf’s re-election.
Johnson finished fourth in the just-ended first round after securing 127,666 votes for 8.2 percent.
It remains to be seen how much his backing of Weah, who won the first round with 596,037 votes for 38.4 percent, will impact the run-off.
Strategists within the CDC say they are not looking to win the entire Nimba County but are rather keen on increasing the 3% the Coalition obtained from Nimba in the first round to a much-higher votes total in a bid to propel the CDC to the presidency.
Political pundits say any increment in votes for the CDC in Nimba would be a big boost to the party’s quest for the presidency.
One saying that is echoing is that fact that Senator Johnson’s support has always led to the party he supports winning the presidential election, except for 2005 when he endorsed Weah who went on to lose to Sirleaf.
Other opposition political parties including the Liberty Party, which finished third during the first round, the Alternative National Congress and others are all mute as which of the two political parties to support.
Johnson’s support to the CDC is the first major endorsement by a political party and a popular politician and should give the CDC and its supporters genuine reason to be confident of winning the runoff election.
Analysts also say Weah and the CDC will now have to clearly play the political cards of maintaining a good standing in Grand Gedeh County after forming political collaboration with Senator Johnson who is known to have executed former President Samuel K. Doe.
The political road is muddy but with Senator Johnson’s endorsement, pundits say it is psychological boost to the CDC campaign while it is a major political setback to the ruling Unity Party.
Campaign strategists of both camps could be busy devising tactics with the big day looming.