It has emerged that the Paramount Chief of Mion, Naa Mahamadu Abdulai III, did realized the afterthought of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its 2020 presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama to visit his palace during the latter’s tour of the northern region last Thursday.
The schedule of the former President as announced by the NDC Regional Secretariat did not capture the Mionlana but rather mentioned the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya Naa Abukari II, Yoo Naa Abdulai Yakubu Andani V among other Chiefs to visit as part of his day’s ‘Thank You tour ‘ of the region.
The matter gained prominence on social media where some section of the public bastardized the NDC 2020 flagbearer for such move.
They argued that the two-year old Dagbon peace pack was still fragile and needed interventions that would consolidate the gains thus far, therefore, in strong terms expressed their disaffection to the decision of the opposition leader to blatantly exclude the Mionlana from the lists of Chiefs he intended to visit.
Others did not also mince words to described Mr. Mahama as a divisive person, wondering why the former Head of State would choose to visit one side of the two prominent royal gates in the Dagbon traditional kingdom.
Consequent to that, the NDC heeded to the social media commentary and had to alter their schedule to include the Mionlana.
However, the Chief in parts of his remarks when Mr. Mahama eventually paid a courtesy call on him said, “Your Excellency, my doors are still opened to you, although, let me register that the notification came only this morning but for the fact that you remain my brother and a family member, I had to open my doors and allow you in”.
“Essentially, I appreciate your coming. Your running mate and your party entourage were here; the doors of the palace is opened to all whether you’re coming from whichever planet, the palace of Mion like all other palaces is opened and I want to work hand-in-hand in whichever way with anybody that calls on me to pray for him” he added.