New Democrat (Monrovia)
Wellington Railey, Jr
26 May 2011
Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson’s claim that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s policy of leaving alternate officials in charge of the government and not the Vice President is a constitutional flaw pregnant with prospects for a coup received widespread denunciations Wednesday, with reminders that the Senator was ignorant of the Constitution.
Several senators and others disagreed with Senator Johnson, a presidential candidate in the scheduled elections.
The Nimba County Senior Senator caused a momentary stir in plenary Tuesday by saying: “It is unconstitutional for the president to designate a cabinet minister in charge as acting president while the vice president is here.”
Sen. Johnson, standard bearer of the opposition National Union for Democracy Progress, caused the surprise moments after the reading of a letter from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, saying: “While I am away Justice Minister Christina Tah will coordinate the affairs of government in-consultation with the vice president and in telephone consultation with me.”
Sen. Johnson immediately deemed the president’s decision “unconstitutional and illegal” and urged fellow senators not to endorse it.
Sen. Johnson: “Pretty close to six years ago since I came here, we have been giving endorsement to something, which I believe, is unconstitutional and illegal.”
He insisted that the lawmakers should “no longer endorse the designation of a minister to conduct the affairs of state in consultation with the Vice President in the absence of the President.
“This is unconstitutional and illegal, and this House should not endorse it any longer.”
But Senators Blamo Nelson (Grand Kru) and Gloria Musu Scott (Maryland) cited the constitution refuting the statement.
Sen. Gloria Scott read the relevant portion of the constitution that authorizes the president to designate a cabinet minister to run government affairs in consultation with the Vice President, while the President is away from the country.
Thereafter, Sen. Johnson made no further comments in apparent acquiescence to the reading.
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