The United Zongo for Vice President Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia has asked the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah to direct his efforts and energy to get a running mate for the NDC’s 2020 Presidential Candidate.
According to the group led by its chairman Mr. Mohammed Abdul Karim Oliver, Mr Asiedu Nketiah’s constant doubts about the “undisputed character and integrity of the Vice President”, will not help the NDC in anyway.
The Northern Regional Executives of the group in a news conference yesterday, chided the NDC Chief Scribe for warning Dr Bawumia to stop carrying himself as the next flagbearer of the NPP after the tenure of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expires.
Last week in Tamale, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah alleged that Vice President Bawumia was going around saying he (Bawumia) will replace President Nana Akufo-Addo as the next presidential candidate of the NPP.
According to him, to become a presidential candidate, Dr Bawumia will need majority of the NPP’s delegates to vote in his favour.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah wondered how that will be possible for the Vice President as delegates are selected based on constituencies.
“So if some action is being taken to suppress the number of constituencies you can have in your area of influence and you jumping over the roof top that you are going to be the next Presidential Candidate of the NPP. Are you not deceiving yourself?”, Mr Asiedu Nketiah popularly known as General Mosquito quizzed.
The Zongo group found these assertions as unfortunate and unwarranted as Vice President Bawumia is currently interested in supporting President Akufo-Addo to succeed and deliver on NPP’s campaign promises.
However, the Chairman of United Zongo for Bawumia, Mr. Mohammed Abdul Karim Oliver reminded the NDC General Secretary that, Dr Bawumia is a believer of Islam and as such, the religion enjoins Muslims to seek leadership from the Almighty God before taking any step to lead a great political party such as the New Patriotic Party.
He lambasted Asiedu Nketiah popularly known as General Mosquito for saying it is impossible for the Vice President to become flagbearer of the NPP.
He said this is a laughable claim borne out of confusion, fear and pessimism that in his view continue to put the NDC backward.
“What has ever been possible in the dictionary of the NDC?” he queried.
According to him, many pro-policy initiatives introduced by President Nana Akufo-Addo and his vice Dr Bawumia were impossible to the NDC.
He mentioned free Senior High School (SHS), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and even returning of the Teacher and Nursing trainees allowance as classical examples.
Mr Oliver has therefore urged the public to disregard the comments made by the outspoken General Secretary of the NDC.
He noted that the popularity of the Vice President is unblemished because he has demonstrated this by his exemplary works over the years.
“We have always known that Dr Bawumia remain the NDC’s headache and potentially for a longer time; and it’s understandable some people may want to start fighting a battle for the future today! So we could’ve given him the benefit of doubt but not at a time when the NDC lacks a campaign message and even a running mate to partner the incompetent John Mahama” he added.
Asiedu Nketiah’s failed bid
The NPP Zongo Group said the NDC General Secretary is apprehensive because he failed to meet even a quarter of Dr Bawumia’s standard the NDC set for themselves.
Mr. Oliver therefore implored General Mosquito and the NDC to focus on getting former President Mahama a running into the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December.
