Read before you talk – Professor Alabi replies Kofi Adams

The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi has strongly lashed out at the National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, instructing him to read before he talks.

Kofi Adams in an interview with TV3’s Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah accused party members who publicly expressed interest in the flagbearership position of committing an illegality with their campaigns, as such activities are not in line with the party’s constitution.

He mentioned that the party had a timetable for the nomination of members for various positions ahead of the 2020 polls stating with emphasis that nominations were not yet opened, and so, as it stands, the party has no aspirant for any of the categories.

But according to Prof. Alabi, the NDC National Organizer is ignorant with his statement as it doesn’t state anywhere in the constitution that he, or any other, is breaking the rules by declaring their intent for the position and it is unfortunate such comments are coming from Mr. Adams as they tend to influence people with what they say.

He reiterated his stance on having interest saying “I’ve always said and I’ve told friends and people that I have the appetite for it and it is true I really have the appetite for it. I’ve also said that if God gives me the energy, I will one day present myself to lead the party if the party members vote for me. So declaring your intent or your mere declaration of your intent does not mean that one is breaking the rules, is not legally binding anywhere”.

He further stated that “I’ve been the regional chairman before in our great party. I’ve been for some time a campaign manager in our great party and I know the rules of the game and will not go against the rules of the game and we have the party constitution. And when we want to talk to the public we have to refer to the party constitution because when people do not read the party constitution and officers talk like this they believe what the officers say, and I think that it’s not good for the party. Let us present what is right for the people to make their own judgement and I think that is an unfortunate statement and we should not be really talking this way as top officers of the party”.

Prof. Alabi debunked rumours of him campaigning indicating that it is impossible to do so as the electoral college is not yet out which will be difficult to do so since electorates are not even known.

He has shown great interest in the flagbearership race saying his greatest wish is to lead the NDC in the 2020 elections, something he will never deny since he has the appetite for.

Apart from him, there are a host of NDC stalwarts who are all planning to upstage ex-President Mahama as the NDC’s flag bearer for 2020 because many claim he does not have what it takes to run for the highest office again, after his abysmal performance in the last election that culminated in his and the party’s humiliating defeat.

They include longstanding NDC flag bearer aspirant and former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho and former National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) CEO, Sylvester Mensah.