The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has gone to the founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings, to plead with him to come back to the party and help it to regain power.
The NDC, whilst in office, wrote off its charismatic founder but after the humiliating defeat in the 2016 general elections, it is now persuading him to come back and help to prepare for the 2020 general elections.
The NDC founder, known for his charisma and charm, was conspicuously missing in the NDC’s campaign because of disagreement between him and his party, even with a publication linking him to a Parkinson’s disease.
Minority Visit
Last Thursday, the minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, led a delegation of NDC legislators to visit the former president at his residence in Accra, where he called for unity within the party towards the future.
The minority leader, who is being touted as going to lead the party for the 2020 polls, reportedly acknowledged that the NDC was not in the best times and said metaphorically that the calabash had been broken and that the pieces could be gathered together again.
“We trust that if you guide us and lead us well and the party goes through a proper process of reorganisation to strengthen its grassroots…we will not be in opposition,” he reportedly beckoned Mr. Rawlings.
The minority leader noted that members of the party could express themselves “but should not be done in a manner that will jeopardise the chances of the party and its preparedness for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.”
Collective Responsibility
For Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the party “must take a collective responsibility in accepting the past and a collective responsibility to work together going into the future.”
In what could be interpreted as an attempt to bury the hatchet with their founder, the Tamale South MP asked Mr Rawlings to take up the reigns of leadership, saying, “We want to work with you …We want to act strongly under your leadership and guidance for us to have a united front of the NDC, regardless of our personal differences.”
Mr Iddrisu also touched on the issue of members venting their frustrations at the expense of the party’s image, saying that a member’s expression ought not to come at the expense of the party’s chances in the 2020 parliamentary and presidential elections.
According to Mr Iddrisu, the party as a whole needs to own up for both past mistakes and ready itself for the future.
Conspicuous Action
The absence of the former president on the NDC campaign trail last year was so conspicuous that it became talk of the town.
Apart from Cape Coast where the NDC launched its national campaign in August, 2016, Mr Rawlings was never seen at any campaign event, including the manifesto launch of the party in Sunyani in late September.
He refused to endorse John Mahama as the party’s presidential candidate when he attended the NDC Cape Coast campaign launch, but asked the party supporters to wait till after the elections before he would go round the country ‘to rebuild the party.’
He also refused to disclose whom he voted for on December 7, when asked, saying that his vote was secret.
Old Man
At a point when everybody was asking about the whereabouts of the former president in the NDC campaign, the party’s General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia said brazenly that he (Rawlings) was too old to campaign for the then ruling party.
He had queried cheekily on Joy FM that “If Jerry is your father will you pull him to campaign at this age?”
At a point, the NDC used Africawatch Magazine, published by Steve Mallory, to discredit the former president, claiming he had Parkinson’s disease – a publication which compelled the former leader to threaten the publishers with libel.
His wife Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings also left the party and there is no indication she will ever return to their fold.
After the humiliating electoral defeat, gurus in the party were at each other’s throat over who actually caused the defeat, with one group insisting that the former president should take the blame.
The Greater Accra Regional organizer of the NDC, Anthony Nukpenu, said that no personality other than Mr. Rawlings contributed to the party’s defeat, claiming that he (the ex-president) continuously painted the Mahama administration as corrupt; and that gave the opposition the weapon to fire more salvos.
Source: Daily Guide
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
So u guy need the barking dog back? Ndc ndc ndc....lord please punish us in opposition for long.some of our leaders are wicked.aseidu nketia,portophy,omane boamah,Kofi Adams must step aside before I will ever vote for ndc again
Ewurade begye steer no, na maabo
Rawlings will be the ***barred word*** man to came back, Ghanaians don't believe Rawlings is a baking dog, so if indeed he joined this incompetent group again then he is the baking dog in my area, Rawlings coming back will let incompetent NDC in Parliament will stay home, pls JJ dot be the baking dog, because nobody will listen to your voice.
Rawlings don't come back because they have used and want to continue using you as old sponge. let our leader continue to stay in opposition and protect your image. Stay aloof because ASIDU Nketia said you are backing dog in chain and can campaign without you. look at what they have done to our party. Don't mind these criminal who have played on our intelligence
The Onaapo president has ended his carrier since the CREATE,LOOT and SHARE squad are seeking for Rawlings come back. And for Haruna Iddrisu and Co. you guys were behind the insults Rawlings and his family received in the hands of your Propaganda Machine. Rawlings will be back with Martin Amidu and his Wife. Be prepared to receive MORE FIRE. The CREATE,LOOT and SHARE team wants to rule Ghana again for your information YOU GUYS WILL LOSE YOUR SEAT ONE AFTER THE OTHER.
Its wise to realize ones mistakes and seek counsel. But would the NDC go to Rawlings if they had won the elction? Sincerely, wont they dump Rawlings again should they win election in future? Were the NDC MPs sincere or camouflage? Do u continuous disrespecting your Dad and run to him only when you have challenges? In any case, did the NDC, MPs inclusive thought with their way of life, utterances, self centred, last minutes show (infrastructure development), tribalism comments, selective justice, disrespect for the rule of law, free of Montie 3, acceptance of GITMO 2 without declaring the financial benefits to the Ghanaians, inflation of contract prices for personal gains, hiring of some media persons with huge sums of money,cars, houses, etc? discredited some respectable citizens including the clergy & few who commented the governing of the nation? building of empires of party gurus within the NDC for self gain? Prez Mahama's inability to stand by his words (eg wont pay allowances, even if it cost me to loose the election, free SHS is impossible,)? ........ Deceiving the Ghanaian/NDC fraternity that they are in comfortable lead when they are loosing in the just ended election is enough for them to loose the election to realize that power does not reside in the governing party. Wait a minutes. Am i confused or right?? Did Hon. Haruna said that the NDC MPs want H E Rawlings to be their leader? What has become of their party constitution of who is the leader when the flag bearer loses election??? Truly, i'm tired of question about the NDC. Will continue next time. Before i say bye, WHO IS DISTURBING THE NDC?
Elections in Ghana are no more about personalities.Its about your vision and your plans for the citizenry.You had the opportunity to rule and you messed things up. You did all u could to disrespect your founder. Have you forgotten soon that you paid people to trumpet Rawlings Abacha scandal. So after destroying him what integrity has he got again. After making him nobody in your party,you now want to use him and dump him again.You rose against her daughter's candidature and look at where you are today. Pride and arrogance kills.You sponsored use... Less journalist to attack your founder and leader to the extent of relating to him as a dog. Shame unto you nation wreckers,evil and witches who came to steal and destroy all that was left for u. Dubious contracts.The same basket you said you could not pay allowances and employ people,somebody came and within three months he has restored it. Coming to power again for the where. Criminals
Going back to JJ is nothing special, after all, he founded the party. However, haruna iddrisu is not fit to be the flagbearer of NDC. The worst thing to do is to get another person from the north to lead the party after what John mahama did to the party. Time has come for those from the south to lead again. They have had their fair share. Anyway, goosie tandoh, is rather to lead, we don't need another ***barred word*** to lead us.
THIS IS UNTRUE. Rawlings is now in charge of the party so who is begging him. Daily Guide wise up. Gina in an interview said she likes to formulate thing about NDC to help her sell her papers. GINA and HER daily guide are BIG lairs.
Interesting,what ever goes around comes around.The N D C now believes old age is wisdom,Asiedu Nketia thought he was making fun of NANA ADDO by saying Rawlings was too old to join them in the campaign,now the same N D C runs to the old man and wants him to lead them, am waiting for Asiedu Nketiah to also lead the N D C national executives to the residence of Rawlings and we will see who actually born dog.