Give others the chance – Alabi tells Mahama

Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Professor Joshua Alabi is asking Former President John Dramani Mahama to pave way for other members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to contest for the presidential aspirant slot.

According to Alabi, who was speaking in a yet-to-be-aired interview on TV3‘s New Day, although he is not aware of the former president’s intention to contest, he’d rather Mahama stepped aside and allowed others to represent the party.

“I am not aware that former President Mahama has told anybody that he will stand, but I will buy into the idea where he allows others to also lead the party,” the leading member of NDC said.

Prof Alabi is of the view that John Mahama should instead support other interested parties with his rich experience which he has gathered over the years.

The former UPSA Vice Chancellor also believes the NDC as a party has trained a lot of people who with the support of experienced people like John Jerry Rawlings and John Mahama can lead the party to victory come 2020.

Asked what he thought contributed to the NDC’s defeat in the 2016 elections, Professor Alabi said the party failed to recognize its grassroots members.

“It’s simply the disconnect between government, leadership of the party and the grassroots and that is what we are working on,” he said.

The professor said the NDC ought to seriously involve the grassroots in all its dealings by putting the party at the center of governance.

In 2017, Professor Alabi, who served as Greater Accra Regional Minister under the Rawlings administration, expressed his intention to contest the presidential ticket.

He is confident in his leadership skills to lead the party to victory come 2020 when given the nod to represent the party.

“What I have to offer is leadership, because I have been in leadership throughout my life, from student leadership through to academia.”

Aside the professor, some other NDC members Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, former National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) CEO Sylvester Mensah and former Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon Nii Amasa Namoale have also declared their intention to contest.

Watch the exclusive interview with Professor Joshua Alabi on Wednesday, January 24, 2017 on TV3 New Day at 6:00 a.m.