PHOTO: The late Sen. Prince Yormie Johnson is expected to be laid to rest this Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 in Ganta, Nimba County
6 July 1952 – 28 November 2024
Dr. M. Blonkanjay Jackson (MsEd, EdM, EdD)
Education Engineer & Development Specialist
January 15, 2025
At least three fortnight ago, news of the demise of two-time presidential candidate and Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson (PYJ) reverberated over the length and breadth of this nation-state as if the vessel Elizabeth the May Flower had brought additional freed slaves to the Grain Coast as it did in 1822.
Liberians being what they are, some of our kinsmen assumed an insensitive satirical posture that PYJ had all along qualified for death. In contrast, others bowed in sorry and lamentation over the passing of the audacious warrior, unbending statesman, and controversial politician turned “Man of God”
On January 14, 2025, Liberians at all strata of the society gathered to give PYJ a state funeral in remembrance of a man whose life and legacy continue to stir both deep emotions and significant reflection. In many ways, his story is a testament to the complexities of our nation’s history—marked by moments of great triumph and unspeakable sorrow, a history in which some of us have been both witnesses and participants. As we reflect on the life of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, we must confront the truth about our past—the evil that men do, and the ripple effects of their actions across time.
It is said that the evil which men do lives after them, while the good is often interred with their bones (Mark Anthony). In the case of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, this truism is evident in the juxtaposition of the complex man he was. Like many others who have walked through the annals of history, his legacy is one of duality—a combination of light and shadow, love and loss, war and peace, leadership and controversy, and most of all, sin and repentance.
As one of the most prominent figures in Liberia’s civil war, Senator Johnson played a role that would become forever entwined with the bloodshed and brutality of that era. His involvement with the notorious National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) and the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) and his leadership during the war years left an indelible mark on the country. The infamous images of the conflict and of the atrocities that occurred under his watch are still fresh in the minds of many.
We cannot and should not shy away from the painful reality that some of his actions—especially in the later years of the war—were perceived as cruel, calculated, and destructive. The decisions made by individuals in times of war can carry consequences far beyond the battlefield, impacting families, communities, and the very soul of a nation. The violence that men do in the heat of conflict, whether driven by ideology, power, or fear, reverberates for generations.
However, as we reflect on Senator Prince Y. Johnson’s life, we also must recognize the humanity within him. There was more to this man than the actions that will forever be tied to Liberia’s dark past. After the war, he transitioned into a “born-again” man of God, then into a political role, serving as pastor of his church, and a kingmaker and senator for Nimba County, where his advocacy for the welfare of his people became his focus. His political career was characterized by a commitment to representing his constituents and attempting to bring stability to a fractured Liberia. Despite the blood-stained chapters of his life, Prince Y. Johnson was seen by some as a figure of redemption—a man who sought to reshape his legacy and contribute to the rebuilding of his country.
But history is never one-sided. The evil that men do may remain forever, but it does not define them wholly. As much as we must confront the pain of the past, we must also acknowledge the complexity of human nature. In reflecting on Senator Prince Y. Johnson’s life, we are reminded that no one is solely defined by their darkest moments, but by the totality of their experiences, their choices, and their capacity for change.
To the people of Nimba, and his family, we extend our deepest condolences. No matter the public perception, Prince Y. Johnson was a father, a brother, and a son. His loss is one that is felt deeply by Nimba County, and those who knew him best. Their grief is a reminder that every life, regardless of the challenges or controversies, is valued by those who love them.
As we say goodbye to Senator Prince Y. Johnson, we must do so with open eyes. Let us not forget the past, for it shapes our present. But let us also not define a person by their mistakes alone. As Liberians, we must continue to learn, to reflect, and to strive for a future where the sins of the past no longer dictate the possibilities of tomorrow.
Rest in peace, Senator Prince Y. Johnson. Your life, marked by both great tragedy and potential for redemption, will remain etched in the chronicles of our nation. We must continue to confront the evil that men do, and in doing so, we must commit ourselves to a better future for Liberia—one rooted in truth, healing, and reconciliation consequently, THE EVIL THAT MEN DO OUGHT NOT TO LIVE AFTER THEM.
To those ends, please join me in reminiscence of the 4th and 5th stanzas of the 17th Century hymn, “O God our Help in Ages Past”
- A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
- Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.
Rest in sweet repose, Senior Man.
About the author:
The Rivercess man, CEO, and founder of the Diversified Educators Empowerment Project (DEEP), Mwalimu-koh Dr.. Blonkanjay Jackson holds a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Master of Science in Secondary Education (Mathematics) from St. Joseph’s University; he is a Yale University Teachers Initiative Math Fellow, and UPENN Teacher Institute Physics Fellow. Dr. Jackson served the government of Liberia diligently for four years and returned to private practice as Development Specialist and Education Engineer. The Mwalimu-koh can be reached at +231886 681 315.