It’s not enough to wear big smocks and go sit as a backbencher – Avoka jabs Minister

The former Member of Parliament (MP) for Zebilla constituency in the Upper East Region Cletus Avoka has delivered a quick punch at the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the area over his lack of influence and front-bearing in Parliament.

Mr Avoka who is seeking to be elected to parliament for the sixth time after losing out in the 2016 elections believes he still has a place in the front row seats of parliament which he can occupy when elected.

The former Majority Leader in the 2016 elections lost to Frank Adongo Fuseini who currently doubles as the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister.

However, Mr Avoka appears motivated by the obvious lack of visibility of the deputy regional minister in parliament, to stage a comeback.

Stating reasons for his return to the race for the seat, the one-time ‘Zebilla Mugabe’ threw a jab at the current MP over his taste for big smocks and yet occupies a backbench in parliament.

“Politics is an influence and nothing else. It is not enough to wear a big smock and go and sit at the back as a backbencher. You need to have an influence. As a former Majority leader, if I go back to parliament today, I’ll be in the frontbench of the NDC. In this respect, if there is any decision to be taken or there are any resources to be distributed, I will be part of the decision-making process and in that case, my constituency would not be left out or abandoned,” he said in an interview on Yem Radio in Bolgatanga monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

In a response to critics who have held the view that he has overstayed in parliament and hence should drop the idea of a possible return, he stated that claims of him being in the position for too long are baseless and not enough good reason to prevent him from going back to parliament.

“Nobody says that I was not a very good MP or I did not contribute materially to the development of the Zebilla constituency. What they is that [he] has been there for long. Is that a criterion for removing somebody,” he questioned.

He further refuted reports that he had assured he would not be seeking re-election after the 2012 elections.