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. |
Show me Rawlings' resignation or withdrawal letter. When did he say he is no longer part of NDC. This man could not advise his wife against breaking away from NDC. For more than 17 years, people tolerated them but they could not tolerate 8 years of others. Are they angels? If Nana Konado had tolerated Mills/ Mahama, she could have been the best candidate for NDC now. If you see me go, you will have your double portion!- a lesson for every politician
Mr.Rawlings pls be very careful with this people because they just want to use and dump u once again,they think they are smart,so prove to them that you are a wise man,if they will agree that your daughter will be the flagbearer,then accept them,but if they refuse,then dont mind them,God bless u Mr. Rawlings.
I did not see Asiedu Nketia aand Mahama. NDC is deeply divided and in crisis.
Left to me alone, nobody should go to Mr. Rawlings to beg him to come back to the NDC family. Mr. Rawlings and his wife have no genuine reason for their actions except that they HATE ex-president Mahama and just want to see Mahama out of power. I still believe that without Mr.Rawlings and his wife NDC can still come to power if only we strategize well and pay attention to details.
the chickens have finally come home to roost , tha nk GOD
***barred word***!!!!! You disrespect this old man and his wife and you are now going back to him for his help. They think everyone is in Gh is ***barred word*** like their foot soldiers. I would be surprised to see Rawlings following these babies with sharp teeth again.
hypocrity Ndc
WHAT A JOKE !!!!!!and look at these small boys in nappies thinking JJ Rawlings is an idiotic full to follow these failures corrupt thiffs in life ; why should JJ Rawlings waste his time on these professional NDC stillers and illiterates ***barred word*** ; where is Asiedu Nketia ;KOKU and the other loud mouth parrots in the NDC; if these NDC rats think the magic of JJ Rawlings will help them win any election in Ghana again they are grossly mistaken !!!!!; JJ RAWLINGS WILL NEVER GET INVOLVE WITH NDC AGAIN !!!!!!besides JJ Rawlings has never being clean ; he is tribalistic and an ewe thiff ; did he account for the cash he took from Sanni Abacha and why should Ghanaians vote for the NDC just because JJ Rawlings has returned ; WHAT CAN JJ RAWLING DO ; because he will not be in power ;all these vultures in the NDC want him to do is go campaign for them to win power and they will DUMP him agan and call him akingds of names ; JJ RAWLINGS IS NOT A FULL !!!!!!!; if you idiotic donkeys want to win power then why do you not go out there and work hard to win power by yourselfs why JJ RAWLINGS ; because it is said in the good book 'HONOUR THY FATHER AND MOTHER SO THY DAY MAY BE LONG UPON THIS EARTH !!!
i think is too late for the NDC to go for pleading and too early for them to come back to power. The chained dog will be released in in 2040.
Ghanaians would be gluttons for punishment if they vote the NDC into power anytime soon.The harm these people have done to this country will take years to repair.John Mahama is by far the worst leader this country has EVER had. He and his friends' only concern was st3aling from the national treasury and he looked the other way as our rivers and streams were heavily polluted.If Ghanaians know what is good for them should forget about the NDC.Let's build a third force in Ghanaian politics.