Mahama said a Northerner can't be president but I'm here so vote for me - Bawumia

NPP presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has reminded Ghanaians of some comments former President John Mahama made against him.

Addressing an enthusiastic crowd in Jirapa in the Upper West Region on Thursday, Dr. Bawumia said former President Mahama played tribal cards against the NPP, saying the party would never elect a Northerner to lead them. Hence, it is only when the NPP gives him their top position that the people of the North will vote for him to be President.

Interestingly, Mahama also made the remarks in the Upper West Region in the build-up to the 2016 elections.

"When I decided to contest for the flagbearership of the NPP, many people said it was not possible. They said it won't happen. They said the NPP would never elect a Northerner to be the leader. But I told them if God says it is possible, it will be possible.

"So I went for the contest and by the grace of God, I am the leader of the NPP… You will recall that some time ago former President Mahama said that if the NPP wants the North to vote for them, they should elect Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Today, the NPP has elected Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, so the North, it is now time to vote for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,” Dr. Bawumia said.

The Vice President said with him and Mahama representing the Northerners, it will be an all-Northern affair, therefore making this year’s election a "historic election.”

He also reminded the residents in Jirapa how former President Mahama neglected them and all the Northern Regions, failing to provide them any tangible development during his reign as President.

“It is an important election and a historic election. This is the first time the two leading parties are presenting candidates from the North, so it is going to be a Northern President. It is either Dr. Bawumia or former President Mahama, but former President Mahama has been President before and I have not. I have only been a Vice President and my contributions to the development of the North are there for all to see.

"But do you recall what former President Mahama did for Jirapa, the Upper West Region, and the entire North? He said he set up SADA to develop the North, but after millions of dollars, we saw nothing. Can you point to any SADA project here in Jirapa, the Upper West, and the Northern Regions? They said they invested in guinea fowls and when we asked them where are the guinea fowls, they said they have flown to Burkina Faso.”

"We want development and we want to go forward. We want to go forward with digitalization and modern agriculture, not lip-service and guinea fowl which Mahama represented."