Has Alan found his mojo while....

Akufo-Addo becomes a submarine?

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

My good friends, there is every indication that Alan Kyerematen has bounced into action, ratcheting up his political rhetoric to prove that he is on his feet to claim the slot as the NPP's flagbearer.

And he is doing so more robustly after the NPP's national delegates' conference. Any bolstering of his confidence now that Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey and Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie (well-grounded Akufo-Addo supporters) have been kicked out?

Has Alan now found his mojo, especially knowing very well that his henchmen are now in charge of the NPP's bureaucracy?

Although he has denied speculation that Kwabena Agyepong (General Secretary) and Paul Afoko (National Chairman) will automatically work for his good to dim Akufo-Addo's chances and become the flagbearer, it will be difficult for me to think otherwise.

For the records, Kwabena Agyepong was Mr. Kyerematen’s campaign manager ahead of the 2012 party flagbearer race.

Mr. Afoko is Mr. Kyerematen’s close associate and was also closely involved in his campaign for presidential candidate in 2007.

I acknowledge the deafening silence on Kyerematen's part long before the Tamale conference; and his evasive answers on his future political direction too. But just before the conference, he gave a strong indication that he will be in the race.

Now, he is speaking more confidently, loudly, and clearly than Akufo-Addo had been doing before the outcome of the conference. And he was the first to express satisfaction at the outcome and to congratulate the winners.

He is out with many utterances to prove that, indeed, he has something to gain. Here are some of the headlines encapsulating his utterances:

1. "Nana’s(Akufo-Addo's) popularity won’t guarantee victory for NPP—Alan"

2. "I don't need anybody to convince people about who I am—Alan"

3. "Kufuor not ‘coronating’ me as NPP flagbearer—Alan"

These are powerful utterances that foreshadow the trend that internal politics in the NPP will take as the stage continues to be set for an Alan-Akufo-Addo showdown.

As if unsure or already threatened by Alan's discovery of his mojo, the Akufo-Addo camp is reacting in a knee-jerk manner to create the impression that "things are knocking things" already.

An Akufo-Addo aide, Mustapha Hamid has reacted to Alan's claim that Akufo-Addo's popularity won't guarantee an electoral victory for the NPP at Election 2016. After taking a swipe at Alan over his utterances, Mustapha Hamid said the unthinkable:

"... if Mr. Kyerematen thinks he is that popular and Ghanaians want him, he should try standing as an independent candidate for the presidency."

(See: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=306377)

Eureka!!

Absolute apprehension in the Akufo-Addo camp already? What will happen if Kyerematen goes independent will not favour Akufo-Addo. So, why push things this way?

Interestingly, Akufo-Addo has gone quiet. It took him two clear days to react to the outcome of the Tamale conference and has since turned himself into a submarine while Alan is on the surface, proving that he is the man with the mojo!!

Folks, the internal wrangling is already in top gear. Apparently, these NPP people cannot even realize that they stand to perform better if they sink petty differences to unite. They are already deepening the gulf and will be none the better for it.

As for me, "my mouth no be gun oooh". I will continue to monitor the situation and pass comments on as I deem appropriate.

I shall return…

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