Why Odike Was Sacked

The presidential candidate of the United Front Party (UFP) Akwasi Addai aka Odike has been slapped with an indefinite suspension by the party�s National Executive Committee (NEC). Odike was in the news recently following his invocation of curses on the Chief Executive Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Kojo Bonsu and the Chief of Asokwa Nana Ofe Baamoah II, over the demolition of a structure which he had put up for use as a vehicle inspection point under the authority of the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA). The suspension from the party was informed by the curses he rained on Kojo Bonsu and the Chief of Asokwa, according to a release. �The NEC would like to state unequivocally that we are deeply concerned about the behaviour of the former presidential candidate, most especially his decision to invoke curses on two prominent personalities, namely the KMA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Kojo Bonsu and the Chief of Asokwa, Nana Ofe Baamoah II,� the party stated. The UFP described Odike�s action as embarrassing, adding that �as a party that respects tradition and the rule of law, we believe that Mr. Akwasi Addai�s action was appalling and an embarrassment to the image of our dear party.� While distancing itself from the curses which Odike rained on Kojo Bonsu and the Chief of Asokwa, the party barred him from granting interviews to the media in the name of the UFP. He was ordered to return party property in his possession, including the vehicles he used for the 2012 campaign, to David Esie Bonya, a director of operations of the party in their Koforidua office. The NEC premised its decision on Article 8, Section C, of the party�s Constitution. The action of the party�s National Executive Committee (NEC), contained in a release dated December 7, 2013 and signed by Nana Agyenim Boateng (Gyataba), National Chairman, has doubtlessly worsened the woes of a politician whose flirtations with the ruling NDC attracted the attention of political observers. He has been summoned to the Asantehemaa�s palace for invoking the Ashanti deity �Antoa Nyamaa�, to curse the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive and the chief of Asokwa. He was summoned because it is a breach of tradition to invoke the name of the deity to curse others, penalty for which involves the slaughtering of sheep and the performance of other rituals to pacify the gods. He is expected to face a traditional panel to be headed by the Asantehemaa where the applicable sanctions would be imposed on him. It is thought that his company, Odike Ventures, won the bid for the contract to build and run the vehicle inspection point because of his links in the NDC. Unfortunately for him, it turned out that the structure could impede the future development of a major nearby interchange�the Asokwa Interchange-Ahodwo Roundabout road, hence the demolition. When the Asokwa Chief reported the curses to the Police, they were unable to take action on his complaint due to the absence of a place for curses in law.