I can't be Mahama's running mate, we're both Northerners – Ayariga

Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has said explicitly that he will not accept an offer from John Dramani Mahama to be his running mate as the country prepares to go to the polls in December.

Mr. Ayariga made this known in an interview with Joy News monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

To him [Mr Ayariga] in the Ghanaian scheme of politics, it will be suicidal for two Northerners to join forces as flagbearer and running mate in an election because, over the years, people have come to accept the fact that if the flagbearer is from the South, the running mate is from the North and vice versa.

He disclosed that it will be out of love for his senior brother that he will turn down the offer to be his running mate because he knows they will lose woefully.

“In our scheme of our politics, you know that when the candidate is from the North his running mate is from the South and when the candidate is from the South you know that the candidate is from the North and so I’ve never dreamt of being the running mate of John Mahama. I’m also from the North and we can’t have two Northerners on the same ticket. I’m not saying it’s impossible to have two northerners on the same ticket but I don’t think that politically it will be a wise thing to offer the country that ticket."

“I will because I will see him clearly losing the election with me as his running mate so if I really love him and want him to win and he comes nominating me and I’m hundred per cent convinced that people won’t accept the idea that I and my elder brother will all be Presidential Candidate and Running Mate, I will have to advise him that this is a crazy idea he shouldn’t even attempt it,” he said on why he will turn down the offer on to become John Mahama’s running mate.

On whether he will accept to be a running mate for a candidate from the Southern part of Ghana, the lawmaker said it will be dependent on what the presidential candidate looks out for in a running mate.

On the ideal candidate to occupy the vacant position, Mahama Ayariga said it should be someone who may influence a shift in voting patterns in some parts of the country and also has a full and deeper understanding on issues of finance and proper economic management.