A leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Director of Operations at the Presidency believes even if the former First Lady, Naadu Mills, has been comforted enough by well-wishers, recent comments by Former President Rawlings on the death of her husband, Professor JEA Mills, will stir up her pain and misery and definitely worsen her already distraught soul.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuije claims Mrs Naadu Mills is �livid and appalled� by Mr Rawlings� distasteful comments. According to him, the former First Lady was shocked that Mr. Rawlings could make such statements at a time when the whole nation is mourning the death of her husband.
�His comments have made situation worse and horrible�I have talked to few people and I get the response that she is so appalled�,� Nii Lantey said.
Mr Rawlings, in an interview with the BBC World Service in Congo Brazzaville on Wednesday, said though he was shocked to hear the news of the death of his once-beloved prot�g�, it did not come to him as a surprise. He revealed that the cancer that afflicted Mills, affected both his eye and his ear, and "he couldn�t sustain more than three hours per day."
�Quite frankly, I think had he been advised and done something wiser earlier on, he could probably have survived for another six, seven months I guess, but he got too tight, he got extremely tight and the poor professor passed away,� JJ said.
But Nii Lantey, who is also the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Odododiodoo, considers the Founder of the NDC�s comments as a mark of total disrespect for the dead.
To him, irrespective of the seeming bad blood between Mr Rawlings and the late president, he (Rawlings) was hasty in his pronouncements which he felt were unnecessary and irresponsible.
Speaking in an interview with Shamima Muslim on the Citi Eye Witness News, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije said if he had his way the former First Family should forever remain unwelcome visitors to residence of the late president and never be allowed to pay any form of tribute to him (Mills) after making such unfortunate comments.
��If it had been me; the sort of comments he has made, showing so much disrespect to the dead, I will do that (turn them away from the residence). Even if they have something against President Mills this is not the time to show it�if�I will not welcome them to my house�� he added.
Reached for his reaction, Spokesperson for the Rawlingses, Kofi Adams quickly said �unfortunately, he (Nii Lantey) is not�.
Mr Adams also considers the Director of Operations at the Presidency as having no respect for his elders and offered a piece of advice to President John Dramani Mahama not to include him and others who behave in like manner in his communications team.
��he (Nii Lantey) cannot by his comments turn people against anybody�you cannot do that...When I listened to him, I was shocked and I hope John Mahama does not include some of these persons speaking for him. If he does, he will have serious difficulties�� Kofi Adams said.
Source: Rebecca Addo-Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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