JJ's Boom Speech is "cr*p and b*llshit" - Kofi Wayo

Firebrand politician, Kofi "Chuck" Wayo, has described ex-President J. J. Rawlings' speech in Kumasi over the weekend as "crap and bull-shit."

Kofi Wayo made the comment when he granted an exclusive interview to the Chronicle yesterday morning.

"What Rawlings said was pure crap and bull-shit; but let's be gracious to him and begin teaching him lessons in democracy," Wayo said.

He stated that he hopes Rawlings does not mean anything funny or calling for a popular revolt because if that were the case, then (he) Rawlings should be told in very clear terms that it was the popular will and vote that brought the Kufuor administration into power. That vote and popular will has up to four years to elapse after which we can tell the government to get off our necks if they do not perform, he argued.

"But if Rawlings by his statement intends to call people to engage in armed rebellion, then we in the New Patriotic Party will want him to know that we will meet fire with fire should he dare try any of the tricks he played in 1979 and 1981."

Accusing the ex-President of living on past glories, Kofi Wayo stated that he believes Ghanaians will no longer allow themselves to be fooled by people who condemned to death fellow countrymen who had water closets in their homes but do not want to be criticized for sending their kids abroad to be trained at expensive schools.

"Perhaps the NPP's fault is that it is allowing too many of Rawlings boys to walk free after stealing government money. Kufuor didn't kill anybody or jail journalists. He didn't give anybody identification haircuts, and that's freedom and democracy. Rawlings had 20 years to prove himself. He proved nothing except to run down our educational system and throw the whole economy and social fabric in chaos, he said."

Wayo, however, believes it would not be right to prosecute Jerry Rawligns for sedition. "That is what he (Rawlings) would have done to other people if he were in Kufuor's shoes but let's leave him alone to talk, if he has nothing to do with his life."

Making an obvious reference to himself, Wayo told this paper "there is nothing wrong in being vociferous. That's his (Rawlings') style. But if he should go beyond that he must quickly be reminded that the people of Ghana reserve the right to choose at any time the club and team to govern them.

For now it is Kufuor and us (the NPP), not Rawlings and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Talk is good, but we should be able to distinguish between crap and bull-shit on the one hand and constructive talk meant to enhance good governance, civil liberties and true economic growth and prosperity on the other.

"I have my differences with the Kufuor administration, but for now it is the government we all have. We cannot overthrow it violently, except talk some sense here and there till things improve. Why must we compare eighteen months to twenty years and then begin to pick up arms? That's crap and bull-shit," he bellowed.

In a related development, the Peace Seekers International (PSI) has unreservedly condemned Rawlings Kumasi statement in which he called for "positive defiance" in the country.

A PSI release signed by Group Captain (rtd) T. T. Kutin, spokesman,and issued in Accra yesterday, stated that the former President is said to have premised his statement on what he alleged was "the rot of the NPP administration."

While condemning this unnecessary call, we urge Ghanaians to ignore it by treating it with the contempt that it deserves since it is nothing more than a call to anarchy, the PSI said.

According to the group, the country has been the unfortunate victim of such demagogic statements and anarchic policies of Rawlings, like the "Democratization of violence," "Positive lawlessness, etc," the release stated.

It further stated that there is little doubt that these strange and muddled concepts are the seeds sown during the Rawlings era that are now bearing the bitter fruits of endemic indicipline and increased crime, especially armed robbery, which are being vigorously tackled by the current government.

"The statement is vintage Jerry Rawlings the anarchist who thrives best in an atmosphere of chaos and violence. It merely vindicates the long held and often stated position of PSI that the former President is a danger to the democratic culture of this country and needs to be watched, if not brought to book."

The PSI cautioned Ghanaians once again to be wary of the antics, posturing and pronouncements of Jerry Rawlings which seem to be a carbon copy of what he used against the Limann regime, like a boxer delivering body blows to his opponents, before delivering the coup de grace with his treasonable act of December 31, 1981.

"Once again, we wish to warn Rawlings to re0invent himself from the notoriously subversive being that he is into the civil and cultured former head of State he is expected to be or prepare to meet the fury of Ghanaians who have been victims of his subversion and violence and are prepared to defend the peace and democracy and prevent him from taking this country down that road again," he said.