Rawlings Deserves Apology - Joshua Alabi

FORMER GREATER Accra regional minister, Mr. Joshua Alabi, has said Ghana owes ex-President Jerry John Rawlings an unqualified apology rather than condemnation.

After almost twenty years' rule, Mr. Alabi said society has not treated Mr. Rawlings fairly, even after he handed over power peacefully to the current administration. "The manner in which the ex-president is being portrayed is uncalled for," Mr. Alabi, now the campaign manager of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) told The Chronicle.

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Alabi stated that it was unfortunate that the ex-president has been subjected to various forms of vilifications to the extent that others cast insinuations at him as if during his reign he did nothing to warrant commendation.

He said that it is for this reason that Mr. Rawlings 'shouts' to put the records right, adding that this reaction is being termed as creating tension in the country. "Rawlings is not creating any tension in the country, rather we are creating unnecessary tension. If the ex-president is given the due respect as the longest serving president of this country and not subjected to various forms of insults, he would not have been 'shouting.' Rawlings is a human being and is bound to commit mistakes, but the mistakes should not be used as a yardstick to destroy him. This impression created about him is very bad and unfortunate," he intoned.

He said if the former president is accorded the due respect and he fails to live within the confines of the law, then the government has the right to bring him to justice.

Mr. Alabi, a marketing lecturer at the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), took a swipe at the NPP and accused the government of deepening hardships in the country.

According to him, instead of focusing on the issues affecting the nation, the NPP is rather concentrating on the activities of the previous administration. As a result of this attitude, the NPP has woefully failed to fulfill its campaign promises.

Mr. Alabi predicted that the NDC would regain power in election 2004 but said it would not be an easy task.

"We should not behave as if we are in government. When we were in government invariably, the state machinery took over the management of the campaign team but now that we are in opposition, it is the party machinery, which must be in leadership. We must identify the strength of all members of our party before we can win the election," he cautioned.

In an answer to the perception that the ex-president overshadows the party's flagbearer, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, Mr. Alabi, responded in the affirmative but was quick to add that, "the former president does not only overshadow the flagbearer of the NDC but also the incumbent president, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor."

Meanwhile the Chronicle learnt that a serious campaign is under way in the Greater Accra region. Last week, a series of rallies and meetings was held in almost seven constituencies including Ayawaso East, Odododiodio, Ga North, Dadekotopon, Ashaiman, Kruwa and Ablekuma South.