Anti- corruption campaigner and Member of Parliament for the Askimua-Odoben-Braka constituency, P.C. Appiah Ofori, has reiterated his call for the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (N PP) to select a running mate who can win a huge chunk of the northern votes in the December polls.
He is however cautioning the party to be mindful of the insignificant contribution of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2008 elections which, according to him, led to the defeat of the party.
In an interview with XYZ News, the unrepentant critic of Dr. Bawumia said, “he is not the material that will fetch us votes from the north,” stressing, that the party is likely to perform abysmally if Dr. Bawumia is endorsed.
He debunked assertions that Dr. Bawumia is too qualified to partner Nana Akufo-Addo, explaining that the former failed to win the necessary votes in his (Bawumia) own constituency of Walewale.
“In his own home town, if the NPP failed to win, then he did not contribute anything.”
P.C. Appiah Ofori indicated that despite his stance against the former running mate of Nana Addo, he is bound by the decision of the party if the executive council selects Dr. Bawumia on Thursday.
P.C. Appiah Ofori, an ardent advocate of Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula, a contender of the running-mate position, believes his choice will better serve the interest of the party.
He said Alhaji Jawula, a chief in the north, is capable of winning the support of other chiefs in the northern regions. He affirmed that because northerners revere their chiefs, his influence would immensely help the interest of the party.
He added that Dr. Bawumia, who is being touted as the most competent candidate lacks the capacity to work hard towards the NPP’s victory in the December polls. He is of the view that the absence of Dr. Bawumia in the country at this crucial moment clearly shows that he is not committed to the interest of the party.
“If we really want to win, we should get somebody who can get us votes from the north.”
He proposed that Dr. Bawumia will be a better candidate as the governor of the Bank of Ghana with his economic background and not a vice presidential material.
But another leading member of the NPP, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe disagrees with the assertion. He told XYZ News in an interview that Dr. “Bawumia is over qualified” for the job.
He said Bawumia is “tried and tested. He is cool and collected,” and that on Thursday when the decision is announced, “Bawumia will top all of them.”
Dr. Tamakloe espoused the economic credentials of Dr. Bawumiah, stating that his experience as an economic expert will be very vital to the nation if he is brought on board as running mate to Nana Addo.
Nana Addo is expected to announce his running-mate on Thursday after a meeting with party executives. Apart from Dr. Bawumia and Alhaji Bawumia, MP for Lawra Nandom has also been tipped for the position.
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