Sack Nitiwul over Chereponi conflict – Halidu to Government

A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team, Alhaji Haruna Halidu has called for Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, to be relieved of his post following the deadly clashes at Chereponi in the North East Region.

The renewed clash between Chokosis and Konkombas around Chereponi and Saboba has left over 500 persons displaced with others fleeing the area to save their lives. The police have confirmed the death of one as they try to restore calm in the area.

Alhaji Halidu who was speaking on Weekend Focus on Power 97.9FM noted that although President Akufo-Addo has failed as a leader in finding pragmatic steps to put an end to the conflict, the Defence Minister who hails from one of the feuding factions, the Kokomabas, should be relieved off his post.

The Ablekuma Central NDC Parliamentary candidate hopeful believes Mr Nitiwul has not been able to call his people (the Kokombas) to order since the cash began.

“He [Nitiwul] should be changed,” he told host Kwame Minkah and stressed “the duty and responsibility of Nitiwul is to run to his kinsmen and tell them in the face that they are jeopardising his [political] career if they don’t make peace with the other faction.”

Alhaji Halidu also suggested Mr Nitiwul should be seen calling for cease fire as people keep fleeing the towns in the area.

Earlier in the week, some Junior High students preparing for their Basic Education Certicate Examination (BECE) called for the government to intervene so they could have the peace of mind to study. Amidst tears, one female student bemoaned the clash and passionately appealed for the feuding factions to smoke a peace pipe to make way for a peaceful environment to study and write their examination.

Recounting how he shed tears while listening to the anxious pupils, Alhaji Halidu said President Akufo-Addo ought to show leadership and put in the right measures to restore peace in the Chereponi area.

“I was driving on the Nima stretch for a radio programme when I listened to the girl cry for peace, I also shed tears because the children need peace to study and pass,” he added.

Commenting on how to resolve the matter, the former Presidential Staffer under the erstwhile Mahama administration descended on President Akufo-Addo, saying,”We need leaders who become restless when such things (conflicts) happen [but] the passion is not there.”

To him, the president has not shown much commitment towards restoring peace in the area.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has disclosed that he is not part of the mediation process, but went to the north to ask his people to cease fire and seek peace.

He also assured the peace process will yield good results for eceonomic activities in the area to bounce back.