Monrovia – The death of Nimba County Senator Prince Yormie Johnson has sparked a wave of tributes and reactions, with Liberians expressing a mixture of grief, reverence, and contention over the legacy of the controversial lawmaker. Senator Johnson, who served in the Liberian Senate for over 18 years, was pronounced dead Thursday morning at the Hope for Women Clinic in Paynesville.
By Nyantee Togba and Blamo N. Toe
The former warlord-turned-senator, known for his prominent role in Liberia’s political landscape, reportedly passed away at 7:50 a.m., though doctors initially suspected he might be in a coma. Vice President Jeremiah Koung, a close ally and protégé of the late senator, expressed his sorrow over the loss.
“This is sad for me and the people of Nimba,” Vice President Koung lamented. “We delayed for hours hoping he might recover, but it became clear that we lost him.”
Senator Johnson, who was one of Liberia’s longest-serving senators at the time of his death, represented Nimba County in four Legislatures: the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, and 55th. During his tenure, he chaired several key Senate committees, including those on Security, Intelligence, and Veteran Affairs, as well as Internal Affairs, Governance, and Reconciliation. He also served as a long-time member of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Nigeria.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, in a statement from the Executive Mansion, hailed Senator Johnson’s contributions to the nation’s legislative development and reconciliation efforts.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Johnson family and the people of our industrious County of Nimba,” President Boakai stated. “While we may not have always agreed on the path our nation pursued, we recognize the impact of his work and his dedication to representing the people of Nimba County in the Liberian Senate.”
The President assured the Johnson family of the government’s support in honoring the late senator’s memory.
Former President George Weah expressed sorrow over the passing of the Nimba Senator Prince Johnson.
Several dignitaries, including Vice President Koung and lawmakers from across the political spectrum, visited the Johnson family home in Paynesville to offer their condolences. However, the scene also highlighted the senator’s divisive legacy.
Michael Sirleaf, in a live Facebook broadcast, expressed celebration rather than sorrow over Johnson’s passing. Sirleaf claimed that his mother had been killed by Johnson during the civil war.
“I would have loved for Senator Johnson to face the War and Economic Crimes Court,” Sirleaf said.
Another victim, Joseph Kannah, also took to social media, writing, “Why should I waste my sympathies on Rebel Senator General Prince Johnson? RIP Dad, your killer just left to be judged.”
Amid these controversial statements, others called for respect and decorum. James Payne, during a phone-in on OK FM, criticized the jubilant reactions.
“It is unfortunate for folks to be jubilating over the death of Senator Prince Johnson,” Payne said. “Death is not for one person, and we should show some humanity even if we disagree with his past.”
To Senator Johnson’s supporters, he was a patriot who championed the interests of his people. To his critics, he was a symbol of Liberia’s painful past—a warlord whose actions left indelible scars.
Colleagues in the Liberian Senate were visibly shaken by Johnson’s death. Senator J. Gbleh-bo Brown, Co-chair of the Senate Committee on Internal Affairs, described the late senator as an elder whose presence would be deeply missed. “We never got any clue that he had some illness, but again, these that are in our bodies, we don’t know what we have,” Brown said. “We’re going to miss him.”
Senator Brown revealed that Johnson had been actively preparing for public hearings on the newly proposed Local Government Act before his demise. “We want to express our deepest sympathy to the people of Nimba, his wife, and the family. Maybe that’s the way God wanted him to go,” Brown added.
Former President Pro Tempore Albert T. Chie also reflected on Johnson’s impact, calling him a straightforward and humorous colleague. “Each time he talked, he always made us laugh. He’s always to the point,” Senator Chie said, noting that Johnson often preferred silence during debates unless he had meaningful contributions.
The senator’s body has been transferred to the Samuel Striker Funeral Home for preservation as the nation prepares for an official commemoration.
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