The New Dawn Liberia | Truly Independent

Senator Prince Johnson says he is heading to court over an alleged assignation attempt claims by his former party chair, Mr. Gbowou Kowou who resigned on Sunday.

Sen. Johnson has accused his former chairman of terroristic act, noting that Kowou allegedly orchestrated an assassination plot recently when he reported to the police that armed men fired at his vehicle, while driving, blaming Johnson for the alleged attack.

Speaking to the New Dawn via mobile phone Sunday evening, Senator Johnson disclosed that he has issued a writ of arrest against Kowou for accusing him (Johnson) of attempted murder. 

Asked whether he regretted the resignation, Johnson said Kowou should have resigned long time ago, and added that the NUDP will shortly submit the names of new officials, who were elected last month at a convention held in Ganta, Nimba County.

Mr. kowou had opposed nearly all decisions or actions taken by Johnson. Mr. Kowou had repeatedly accused Johnson of unilaterally running the party, making political commitments to the governing Unity Party without consulting NUDP executives.  He also accused Johnson of introducing tribalism in the party and paying more attention to his kinsmen from Nimba County.

Kowou, who hails from Grand Gedeh County, said following several weeks of intensive consultations with officials and executives of the party, including opinion leaders, elders and prominent citizens of both Grand Gedeh and Nimba counties, he has resigned officially as National Chairman of the NUDP with immediate effect.

“We are fully aware that not everyone will accept this decision but in all sincerity, our decision today, was made in the spirit of national peace and unity. This was done in the interest of all of us and not as a result of weakness or fear."

"We have taken this bold step because we are powerful and as it is written; only those who are strong and powerful can bring forth peace,” Kowou told a news conference on Sunday.

He said the prolonged conflict in the NUDP has taken a tribal tone, which is not healthy for all peace-loving Liberians. “Prince Johnson has brought tribalism into the party; he thinks the party belongs to Nimba or the Gios and the Manos. We are leaving party politics now to focus more on the utilization of our professional services in support of our National Agenda,” he added.

The National Union for Democratic Progress came third in the first round of the 2011 presidential election trailing behind the governing Unity Party and the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change.

However, immediately after the first round of election, Johnson declared support for President Ellen Johnson during the runoff poll on November 8, noting that between the Unity Party and the Congress for Democratic Change, the UP is the “lesser of two evils.”