Saints they say become saints because they never for a single moment see
themselves as anything but as sinners.
The recent development in the NDC party between the founder and his “senior
apprentice” can be viewed or described by true lovers of the party as very
unfortunate. But for most young apprentices like me, we would like to see it not
only as unfortunate but exceedingly interesting. Unfortunate because of the
effects it has brought to our party, but interesting because of the card our
senior apprentice has decided to play. The “card” that seem to be raising his
dwindling popularity but adversely affecting the popularity of the entire NDC
party.
Before I go further, permit me to cast our minds back to three general
congresses the party has held in the past, including the infamous Swedru
declaration. A vigorous attempt by Dr. Jerry Rawlings to sell the then fine but
highly unpopular professor to delegates landed him into drawing disaffection
for himself among his friends, cronies and some close big wigs of the party. Yet
he stood by his “BOY” and the NDC came out victorious at all three congresses.
Permit me again to remind us that prior to these happenings; Rawlings has always
been a long standing enemy of some families in this country because of his role
as a major hero of the June4 and 31st December revolution. Now what we must
realize is that some of these enemies of Dr. Rawlings are in the party and have
never been happy to see anything good about him; and that includes the NDC party
itself.
Surprisingly and interestingly, the first step our good professor and “senior
apprentice” decided to take after winning the 2008 election on the shoulders of
our founder was to heavily drop that political Godfather, turn his back on most
financiers of the party as well as the down triodes like myself (fooled
soldiers) just to enable him achieve his better Ghana agenda. Isn’t that an
interesting way of saying thank you?
Realizing how effectively the opium of religion and spirituality works on
Ghanaians; president Mills decided to play that card perfectly. The card I refer
to as the “saint Mills” card. Appear spiritually inclined and religiously active
and you will appeal more to the people than the “half devil” that brought you
this far. Do all you want to do to him and nobody’s attention will be drawn to
it. Why? Because you have succeeded in imprinting yourself as a man of God in
the minds of most Church going people. How interesting!
Thirdly, our “senior apprentice” identifies that synonymous to Jerry Rawlings is
SOCIAL JUSTICE. The reason most corrupt officials can never like him. A
principle he will stand by even at the point of death. Hence he decides to play
that card once again. Make it look like Rawlings is the one who wants to throw
everyone in to jail; and “SAINT MILLS” is the father for all.
As if that is not enough, he recruits a legion of novice politicians and
confused journalists with a clear cut responsibility to denigrate and discredit
Rawlings on all platforms they find themselves. This duty; they are gladly
executing as they are well motivated through appointments, promotions and
recognitions. He pretends he doesn’t know a hoot about what these young men and
women are doing; thinking it will inure to his benefit and raise his popularity.
Now let me ask my president a few questions:
1. Where did that God fearing aspect of him go, when he decided in the face of
strong adversity within the party to clinch firmly to the man he now thinks is a
“kakae”? Because those days I saw him more in the house of the Rawlings” than in
the house of the lord.
2. Has he asked himself how come the likes of PV Obeng , kwesi botchwe ,kwamena
Ahoi and other big wigs within the party whom he knew before meeting Rawlings
never saw what they claim they now see in him today? After all he sat in class
and worked with some of them for years. Yet they did not only express how much
confidence they didn’t have in him; they turned their backs on him and walked
confidently away when he very much needed them. Or could it be simply because
today they need him more than he needs them?
3. God fearing as they claim he is; does he honestly believe that this is the
best way to show his gratitude to the man who stood by him through thick and
thin times even at the peril of his entire hard earned political carrier?
4. Reflecting back to the very day he joined this great party, does he sincerely
believe that he has been a unifier? Forget all the “vultures” we see pretending
to be coming back now. He should look with an objective eye as far back as he
can remember and be frank with himself.
5. And as one of my comrades put it, isn’t it obvious that if the Mills of the
past were to see the Mills of today, they will fight at sight - I mean they will
shoot each other?
Let it therefore be made clear to our “senior apprentice” that we the young ones
who are awake, can only regard him as a “saint” if he can see himself as a
“sinner”. Mingle with the “sinner” like he had always done before he became the
president. Stand by the principles of the “sinner” (probity, accountability,
social justice, and transparency), and believe in the occasions that gave birth
to the party he is a leader of today (june4, and 31st December).
Let him again be reminded that the fall of Rawlings”popularity can never add an
iota of popularity to either him or his new masters. It will only make the party
unpopular and relegate it to opposition. It is not by our might, but by the
power of the all mighty that he (Rawlings) is as popular as he is.
In the interest of the party and in his own interest, it would be very prudent
to stop the pretence. Humbly call our “father” to the table not only as the
founder of the party, but as a major power broker, who can single handedly
unmake his administration especially through his inactions. To some of us, this
maybe Atta Mills” last chance to do one positive thing to the party that will
remain lasting, and undo a lot of the wrongs he has done to it as a leader.
Let it therefore be said someday that we added our voice to admonishing him
(Atta Mills) against shooting himself in the foot.
May God continue being gracious to our great party and bring to shame all among
us with ulterior motives!
Najeeb Saqueeb
(NDC YOUTH ACTIVIST)
najeebgh@yahoo.com
