Sir John is a liability and a nightmare to the NPP – Allotey Jacobs

The Central Regional Director of Communications for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs says the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) will go into political oblivion if it retains Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie also known as Sir John as its General Secretary.

According to him, no responsible Ghanaian will vote for a political party which has a General Secretary with an unbridled thirst for insults at any given opportunity.

Allotey Jacobs was commenting on the conduct of Sir John during the petition at the Supreme Court challenging the 2012 presidential election results.

Meanwhile, the NPP General Secretary openly declared his support for the party’s twice defeated presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo ahead of the 2016 general elections.

Sir John was emphatic that Akufo-Addo will contest the party’s flagbearership even before he [Nana] who has taken break from politics for a while makes his political future known.

His conduct has been condemned by some leading members in the party who are calling for his resignation.

They argue that Sir John’s position may influence and intimidate others who are ready to contest the flagbearership position.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, Allotey Jacobs described Sir John as a “liability and a nightmare” to the NPP.

He said Sir John's conduct has deepened the division in the NPP which he claims is gradually sending the party into an “abyss”.

Allotey Jacobs alleged the NPP scribe in his bid to retain his position always muddy the waters when there is unity in the party.

“In times of crisis if you don’t use your head and you use your heart there will be problems. Sir John has awoken the sleeping giants within the NPP who were waiting patiently for the court verdict”.

The NDC man who calls himself a “friendly enemy of the NPP” said the implosion in the party will erupt like a volcano if the leadership does not take steps to mitigate the situation.

Allotey Jacobs maintained that until the NPP eschew the elitism and restructure its grassroots, it will continue to remain in opposition.

In a rebuttal, a National Council member of the NPP, Eugene Antwi described Allotey’s analysis as an “alarmist” approach.

He said internal wrangles are normal in a democratic party like the NPP which believes in divergent views.

Eugene Antwi was optimistic the party will be able to overcome these obstacles and forge ahead in unity.