It seems that Nimba County Senior Senator Prince Yormie Johnson (PYJ's) bid for the Presidency is swelling as key figures reportedly contemplate boarding the Senator's wagon to the Fourth Floor of the Nation's highest seat; Fredrick P. W. Gaye has been weighing reactions and supports to the Senator, and now writes.

But contrary to the thinking of those people, views sampled from certain spheres of the Liberia's political landscape show that many citizens, mostly opinion leaders, are gearing up and rallying supports to Senator Johnson's decision to contest the presidency come 2011.

Many people spoken with considered PYJ as the best leader for Liberia, naming several reasons for their support to him. Some were very frank with observation that Senator PYJ is a straight forward man, who has nothing to fear, "but to tell the truth." They also noted that the Senator is second to non in terms of security intelligence.

Senator Johnson's Promise to downsized civil servants

 "For us, we support Prince Johnson hundred percent and we will definitely carry him to the Mansion. Even though he can say all his controversial things, but that which has to do with prioritizing the downsized government employees as pronounced by Senator Johnson is welcoming." These were the words of many downsized civil servants, who came in contact with our microphone at various Hatai and other entertainment centers in and around Monrovia. According them, playing checkers and scrabbles has remained their job since they were booted out of the Government.

The downsized civil servants expressed frustration over what they called the Government's failure to create other avenues for job opportunities as promised them during the downsizing exercise, something they were convinced Senator Johnson would wipe the grief.

Assurances to Deactivated Security Officers, & Widows

Gathered in their numbers at an entertainment center on Lynch Street, right near the former Defense Ministry Building, some former members of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) said, Senator Johnson's candidacy means "illegally" deactivated security officers are about to be taken from the 'dumpsite' where they have since been placed following the inception of the current Government.

"As promised by Senator Johnson, we are of the conviction that he will not let go sacrifices we made for the country if he becomes President," the Ex-AFL officers averred. Also beating their chests for Senator Johnson's Presidency bid, many widows of dead soldiers told this paper that they would offer themselves as campaign materials for the Senator, intimating that they have suffered for their dead husbands' benefits but to no avail.

It can be recalled that during his press conference at the Capitol Building, Senator Johnson, who named Grand Cape Mount County Senior Senator Abel Massally as his running mate, vowed to restore the hope of downsized civil servants including deactivated security officers. The Senator had declared his candidacy as the most formidable, stating that his targeted electorates are the citizens 'frustrated' by Government.

At the same time, names of some political figures have been in the corridors, giving their support to Senator Johnson, something observers said it has the ability to solidify the presidency bid for the Nimba County Senator.

However, out the political figures, Sekou Damate Conneh has made public his support to the Senator; Conneh is the former leader of the defunct Liberia United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD).

Conneh, also former Stand-Bearer of the Progressive Democratic Movement Party (PRODEMP) during the 2005 election, maintained that Senator Johnson will be the right leader for Liberia.

In the same token, other Liberians are skeptical about Senator Johnson's presidency bid, wondering how his leadership would be like; if at all, he becomes victorious in 2011. Be as it may, it is clear that Senator Johnson now falls among names being lined up for the 2011, as the debate continues.