Former President Jerry John Rawlings, founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) stands accused by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuije for going against his own principle he inculcated in the members of the party.
According to Nii Lantey, the bad blood between him and the former President Rawlings is based on the fact that the founder of the party [NDC] has betrayed his principle of loyalty and solidarity he built the party on.
“...and I will always stand against him for going against the principles of loyalty and solidarity he taught me. He taught me these principles and for him to go against them, I will not support him but give my support to the principle of the party”, he averred.
Speaking in an interview with Bola Ray on Starr Fm, Hon Nii Lante insisted it was wrong for President Rawlings to turn his back against the party he founded by going against the principles he inculcated into the members to always stand and support the party no matter the circumstance.
Former President Rawlings, since the era of the late President Mills in 2009 has been an ardent critic, bemoaning what he described as unprecedented monetization of the political space perpetrated by members of his own party in government.
Significantly, at the 30th Anniversary ceremony of the 31st December Women’s Movement in 2011, the former President described some government functionaries as traitors who have betrayed the cause of the National Democratic Congress [NDC].
Consequently, prior to the 2012 elections, Hon Nii Lante threw a challenge to Mr Rawlings to quit the NDC and see whether the party will not win the elections; adding that the NDC has moved from being controlled by one person to a collective organ.
He pointed out that the ruling NDC was tired of the persistent outbursts of the Rawlingses against the government; vowing to defy the former President nytime he attacks the then Mills' government.
Justifying his remarks, Hon. Nii Lante told Bolaray on Wednesday that he will always defy the party’s founder for going against his own set of principles.
“I condemned former President Rawlings and I don’t have any regret for what I did and if it means doing it again, I will do it so long as I remain loyal and supportive to our great party’s [NDC’s] principles”, he insisted.
“I will do it ten times again as long as he continues to go against these principles he inculcated in all of us. We have been made to support any leader of the party and at the moment the leader of the party is President Mahama and so anybody in the party [including Mr Rawlings] who is against the President, I will turn against that person”, he emphasized.
Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh
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Well spoken Nii. Nailed the nail right on the head
EVEN WHEN THEY ARE BEING STCUPIED?
ONLY A HIPOCRITE AND A ***barred word*** WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SOMETHING WHICH HE KNOWS TO BE WRONG. NII, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE IN A FOOOOLS PARADISE AND THINK THAT EVERONE SHOULD BE LIKE YOU WHO BLINDLY SUPPORT ANY SUUUPIDITY.
Does it mean that even when the NDC was on the wrong path and all efforts to point them to the right direction failed, the founder should still be loyal to the party and follow blindly? People pf principle stand up against wrong and speak against it. If for that reason Rawlings will be demonized so be it. He stood for Probity, Accountability and Social Justice and these are timeless principles. If he approved of President Ellect Nana Addo because he stood on these noble principles, I agree with him. It is time to speak the truth and move away from these selfish people whose agenda is to keep hold on NDC for their private gain.
All those bashing Nii Lantey here are NPP people to whom JJ has suddenly become a lover boy. All genuine NDC people know JJ is a traitor period. Peter Amewu, Chairman of NPP in the Volta Region gave JJ away as a traitor who plotted with the NPP to send his party into opposition, hence the open show of gratitude from the NPP to JJ. NDC people should ask him what he did to warrant such open show of gratitude from the NPP to him. People who sacrificed their lives for JJ have done so in vain. JJ is a traitor pure and simple and genuine NDC supporters are not in denial anymore. As usual Vintage JJ would use his one track propaganda on his own party as being corrupt. What about Abacha money, what about Nsawam lands to Konadu
Why do you address such ***barred word*** as 'Hon'?
this guy paaaaaaaa heeeeeeeeeeer, You are are a big fooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool. you are one of the many reasons why ndc lost. you call yourself a minister but am sorry you dont look like one rather a la-trine carrier. bu-uuuuuuuuuuuuulu.
Rawlings should have known better that parties do not lose elections just because of corruption. Else, was it corruption that led to NDCs first loss in 2000. Was it corruption that led to NPP's loss in 2008? Would he admit that he also presided over corrupt ministers and party functionaries? Otherwise why were some of his ministers jailed? ... dan abudakpui, victor selormey and others. What happened between him and Abacha? You point one finger at Mahama and the other four point to you yourself and it is difficult to explain what your yourself did with probity and accountability. Take NDC back the way you are thinking and you are sure to have NDC become like CPP and PNC. They have won elections before but they cannot win again so be prudent.