Esseku vows to protect President

(The Evening News) -- The desire of the NPP national chairman, Mr Harona Esseku, to thwart the efforts of the various power blocs in the party against his faction is arousing the anger of some members and supporters of the party.

Investigations have revealed that the party’s national youth congress scheduled to take place to elect officers in the latter part of this month will not come on contrary to the party’s constitution. Information gathered so far by the “Evening News” indicates that the proposed congress has been postponed indefinitely by the chairman who wants to adopt a different procedure to fill the vacant positions.

According to our sources, the national chairman has made it clear that he intends to appoint some people known to him very well to the youth leadership positions currently vacant in the party. Last week the national executive committee, held a marathon and inconclusive meeting at the party’s headquarters in an attempt to persuade Mr Esseku to budge. The party’s youth worried about the trend of events in the party, especially at their front, have threatened “fire and brimstone” to fight it all out and ensure that proper democratic procedures are followed.

A source close to the party said Mr Esseku has openly claimed that there is an existence of power blocs in the party. The source alleged that Mr Esseku claimed to belong to the ruling bloc and has vowed to fight perceived opponents of his bloc.

According to insiders, it is for the entrenchment of his ruling bloc that the chairman intends to appoint his favourites to the national youth positions. The source regretted that the chairman who is seen as the embodiment of unity in the party was pursuing bloc agenda.

When contacted on the allegation levelled against him, Mr Esseku could not deny or confirm it, but said that he would issue a statement on the matter later. He, however, wondered why some people were making so much noise about the matter since the leadership of the party had since 1992 appointed people to the youth leadership position.

On the issue of power blocs in the party, Mr Esseku admitted its existence, but rather described it as factions, which exist in very party. He denied that his move to appoint people to the youth leadership was to entrench his ruling bloc and described it as “the figment of someone’s imagination”.

“We have a President whom the constitution allows two terms of office and as the chairman of the party, my interest is to see to it that we ensure that the President does not lose the popularity that brought him to power”. “I don’t think I will agree with anybody who wants to challenge the President during his constitutionally allowed two term,” he said.