JM & Nana Who Looks More Presidential?

Hopes of the opposition New Patriotic Party twice defeated presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his strategists and fanatics of a heartwarming ‘welcome’ similar to the one accorded President John Mahama when he paid a courtesy call on Nigeria’s President-elect, Gen Mahammadu Buhari last week in Nigeria, has turned out to be a disaster.

Contrary to their expectations, the hurriedly organized trip to Nigeria, coming on the heels of President Mahama’s historic call on Gen. Buhari, turned out to be an agonizing and nightmarish experience for Nana Akufo-Addo and his entourage when he was hosted like any ordinary well-wisher of the yet-to-be sworn-in Buhari and his All Progressive Congress administration.

Bent on exploiting the Nigeria opposition leader’s recent victory in the presidential election to his advantage, and in order to boost his fast dwindling third attempt at the presidency, Nana Akufo-Addo and his strategists have been engaged in all manner of tactics to catch the eye of the newly elected Nigerian leader.

After sending an ‘impromptu’ congratulatory message hours before Gen. Buhari was formally pronounced winner of the just ended Nigeria presidential polls by that country’s Electoral Commissioner, the former Abuakwa South legislator was to later dispatch a high powered NPP delegation to personally deliver another congratulatory message.

Perhaps, having realized these efforts have not yielded the desire results of courting Gen Buhari’s support, and possibly, to counter President Mahama’s recent visit to Gen Buhari in his capacity as chairman of ECOWAS to, among other things, discuss arrangements ahead of his swearing-in on the 29th of May, desperate Nana Akufo-Addo also last week travelled to Nigeria to personally meet the former military dictator.

While Ghana’s President and ECOWAS Chairman, John Mahama, enjoyed all the ambience and courtesies associated with such high level visits, the case of Nana Akufo-Addo was completely different.

Aside the little importance that was attached to his visit, pictures emerging from Nana Akufo-Addo’s meeting with the yet-to-be sworn-in Nigerian president showed him sitting in an ordinary front desk chair with his briefcase left on a common wooden table in a chat with his supposed friend.

While many believed Nana Akufo-Addo’s visit to the Nigerian president-elect was to seek his support when he assumes office, the NPP 2016 flag bearer in his explanation, stated that his visit was to commend General Buhari on his historic victory in the country’s March elections.

He was accompanied by Ghana’s former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Rashid Bawa and his (Nana Akufo-Addo’s) Executive Assistant, Saratu Atta.

Ever since the almost 73 year presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressive Congress won the fiercely contested presidential elections in Nigeria, supporters of the opposition NPP in Ghana have served notice that the same will be replicated in Ghana.

General Mahammadu Buhari won the elections at age 72 after four attempts, while Nana Addo in his third attempt at the Presidency would be almost 73 by swearing-in in January, 2017.

According to the opposition NPP supporters, the factors and circumstances which led to Buhari’s massive win presently exist in Ghana and will certainly favor Nana Addo in the 2016 presidential elections.

It would be recalled that a day after Nana Akufo-Addo’s impromptu congratulatory message to Gen Buhari, he dispatched a delegation led by NPP Vice Chair, Mr Freddy Blay to Nigeria to meet the newly elected leader.