By Alex Yomah
Members of the Liberian Senate were stunned yesterday in plenary when Nimba County Senator, Prince Johnson, tendered in his resignation as Liberia’s Representative to the Economic Community for West African States or ECOWAS Parliament.
In a communication addressed to Senate Pro-temp Albert Chie, Senator Johnson thanked members of the Senate for the confidence reposed in him to represent Liberia at the ECOWAS Parliament since 2017.
The Senator said since his preferment at ECOWAS, he had served on key committees, and even rose to the position of 3rd Speaker of the parliament, a position he indicated, tenure has elapsed.
PYJ as he is affectionately called, described his tenure at ECOWAS as cordial and expressed hope that the level of cordiality should accord his would-be predecessor.
The Nimba County political “god father” said his decision to quit is based on huge activities that he is engulfed with in Liberia, which he noted his colleagues could not permit him to travel for now.
Citing some of the engagements; Senator Johnson amongst other things, narrated that he will be focused on the completion of his universities; will be focusing on the full campaign for Jeremiah Koung’s election in Nimba County and other things.
But Grand Gedeh County Senator, Alphonso Gaye disagreed with the excuses given by his colleagues from Nimba County and sought the indulgence of plenary to ask Sen. Johnson to provide the actual reason behind his resignation.
Some senators raised hands to contribute to their colleagues’ resignation, but Senate Pro-temp Albert Chie seized the debate and implored colleagues to discuss Sen. Johnson’s letter in Executive.
But legislative sources who confided to this paper said, Prince Johnson is afraid to travel to Nigeria amid the increase demand for war crime court to be established in Liberia.
Prince Johnson is one of those Liberians accused of committing atrocities, crimes against humanity and the devastation of Liberia during the 14-year civil upheaval.