NDC bares teeth at PNC MP

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken a swipe at the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South Constituency in the Upper East region, Alhassan Azong for campaigning against President Mahama.

The People’s National Convention MP who is also a Minister of State in- charge of Public Sector Reforms in the current administration was alleged to have asked the electorates in the Builsa-South constituency to vote out President Mahama in the November 7 polls.

Mr. Azong who is seeking re-election for the third term said this barely a month ago in the company of his party national executives including the flag-bearer, Dr. Edward Nasigri Mahama during his endorsement as the PNC’s parliamentary candidate for Builsa-South constituency.

And by that public rejection of President Mahama by the incumbent MP, according tosources close to NDC Builsa-South constituency has incurred the wrath of some kingpins in the governing party, particularly, those from the North who have vowed to teach him a lesson, come November 7.

They cannot, the sources said, understand why Mr. Azong could openly reject the flab-bearer of the very governing party, he is currently serving under as a minister, describing him as “ingrate”.

“How can you bite the hand that feeds you? This is politically unwise and we in the NDC will make sure we reclaim our seat we lost in 2008”, the NDC stalwarts said.

And consequently, backed by their words a high-powered out-reach team led by the former Minister of Interior who is also the NDC’s MP for Navrongo Central in the Upper East region, Hon. Mark Woyongo our investigations revealed went to Builsa South constituency a fortnight ago to interact with the constituents and also to strategise on how to make Hon. Azong pay for his betrayal and ingratitude.

The team which included some national and regional executives and some presidential staffers, was first of its kind as NDC executives and sympathizers in the Buils- South constituency converged at the popular Azuwire Guest House to plan how their candidate, Dr. Clement Apaak will win the seat.

Speaker after speaker although they admitted Mr Azong could not have said anything different from what he was reported to have said, having taken his flag-bearer along with him, they condemned his action (s) and further described it as “gross ingratitude” to President Mahama and the NDC government.

For instance, Hon. Mark woyongo the sources indicated that, the NDC in Builsa-South cannot continue to have a PNC candidate to represent them for the third time.

Although, the sources said, he admitted further that, the contest would not be an easy one, he was very optimistic that, Dr. Apaak will win the seat for the NDC and as well increase the presidential votes of President Mahama.

According to him, it would be needless to vote for a candidate whose party will not come to power anytime soon.

“What is the point in voting for Hon. Azong when his party(PNC) is not coming to power anytime soon”, he was reported to have said.

Consequently, he our sources said he called on the electorates in the constituency to ensure that, Dr. Apaak and President Mahama win massively in both the parliamentary and presidential elections in the November 7, polls.

Describing Dr Apaak who was part of the team as affable, a unifier, a development -oriented person, a grassroots man, intelligent, dynamic and above all, a committed member of the NDC, the team, our sources said, the team urged the rank and file of the party in the constituency to ensure that a victory for President Mahama and their candidate becomes possible.

For his party, the NDC constituency secretary for Builsa South, Ben Adocta who apparently was the party’s representative at Hon. Azong’s confirmation, our sources said, expressed disquiet about what happened on that day.

“How could Hon. Azong bring President Mahama’s competitor to campaign for him and as well cast aspersions against the President and the NDC, when he is still the beneficiary of the generosity of President Mahama and the NDC”, he averred.

According to sources, Mr. Adocta who was not enthused a bit about what Hon Azong did, noted that, such an act of disrespect cannot twist the arm of President Mahama and the NDC to give up on Dr. Clement Apaak.

Instead, he said, it has energised and unified the NDC in both national and regional levels to reclaim their seat.

To this end, the sources said, he pledged his constituency's unflinching support for Dr. Apaak and President Mahama, assuring them of massive victory on November 7.