VP Taylor, Commissioner Nagbe Refute Allegation Linking Them to Attack on PYJ’s Church

MONROVIA – Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and Maritime Commissioner Lenn Eugene Nagbe have denied being the masterminds of Sunday’s attack on the Christ Chapel of Faith Church of Senator Prince Yormie Johnson.

On Sunday, during the Christ Chapel of Faith’s normal worship service, members of the “NPP Youth Wing’, dressed in their NPP and CDC regalia, holding banners and placards and chanting anti-PYJ slogans, stormed the Church’s compound and disrupted normal service.

They chanted war crimes court slogan and left Senator Johnson and his wife stranded for some time in the Church’s compound before leaving.

In the wake of the attack, Senator Johnson accused the two highly profiled CDC-government officials and the City Mayor of Monrovia, Jefferson Koijee of masterminding the attack.

Speaking during a press conference later, Senator Johnson said the attack against him was part of a wider plot by the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change to assassinate him owing to his decision to break ties with the party.

But Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, in a snap interview with reporters at the Capitol Building on Monday, debunked Senator Johnson’s claims.

The Vice President said she remains subscribed to the Farmington Declaration and condemned any act of violence leading to Liberia’s crucial presidential and Legislative Elections.

“I condemn in the strongest term any issues of violence in the elections. We all signed to the code of conduct, I stand by the president, I stand by the international community, and I stand by the country that peace is what we want,” she said.

“I believe this election is about ideas about building a better Liberia and what do we do to lift the lives of our people, violence can never be a part of our agenda for this election thank you I have to go.”

She declined to comment if she knew any of the NPP youth leaders that stormed Senator Johnson’s Church. She skipped the question as she walked to her waiting motorcade and departed the Capitol.

At the same time, Commissioner Nagbe has denied all accusations linking him, President George Weah, and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor to the incident.

Nagbe said at no time he instructed dozens of youths wearing the CDC regalia to stage a protest demanding the establishment of a war crimes court to prosecute Senator Johnson.

Speaking in an interview with the Voice of America’s Day Break Africa program, Nagbe who is also a high-ranking member of the CDC, said while he has political differences with the Senator, they do not have to engage in violence, especially at his place of worship.

“Well, it is quite unfortunate that Senator Johnson will say that somebody sent people to attack his church. It’s not true and by disagreement with him is politicians, it involves no violence. He’s from the opposition and I support the ruling party which is the government and we condemn violence in its strongest term,” he said.