Monrovia, Liberia – The recent dismissal of a prominent member of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) by the government has raised concerns about a politically motivated campaign against party members, which is a troubling development in Nimba County following the funeral of the late Senator Prince Yormie Johnson.
On Thursday, MDR Youth Wing Chair Czar Mabulu Palay was fired from his Ministry of Labor job as Director of Health and Occupational Safety. Nesco A. Wollo, the MDR Vice Chair for Political Affairs, was fired from his position at the National Security Agency the day before. Given that they occurred so shortly after Senator Johnson’s burial, these terminations have given rise to grave accusations of political targeting.
A letter stating “administrative reasons” was used to announce Palay’s firing. Many in Nimba County, however, saw this as a kind of political retaliation meant to silence MDR members, a group that was instrumental in ensuring President Joseph Boakai’s win in the 2023 elections.
Our source reported that the two were fired after a public dispute with Vice President Jeremiah Koung during Senator Prince Y. Johnson’s state burial, in Nimba County. The MDR Youth Chairperson frowned at Vice President Jeremiah Koung during the funeral ceremony for his remark that the party’s youth should stop chanting battle cries, calling it an insult to the young people who supported him.
Although many people found truth in Palay’s accusations that the Unity Party leaders abandoned the late senator after the elections, but government authorities sharply criticized the statements. Following the criticism, Palay apologized publicly on social media for his remarks and for any harm he may have caused to Vice President Koung and the impacted families. The people of Nimba County have expressed disappointment over the situation, noting that these acts dishonor the Nimba community and violate Senator Johnson’s legacy.
Palay has subsequently voiced concern for his safety after getting death threats in response to his remarks. Palay added to the climate of intimidation that is now pervasive in the area saying, “Since this morning, people have been sending me messages that I should leave Nimba because people are looking for me.”
