'Hypocrites' condemning Mahama’s 'boot for boot' comment don’t want electoral violence to end - Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Asiedu Nketia, has slammed attackers of former President John Dramani Mahama's “boot for boot” comment in the wake of the unfortunate assault on NDC officials by some masked men in police vehicles, during the just-ended Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.

According to General Mosquito, as he is affectionately called, it is an absolute height of hypocrisy for a section of the public to condemn former President Mahama’s comment without first addressing what led to the ex-President’s outburst.

Mr Mahama, after some members of the NDC were shot at La Bawaleshie during last Thursday's Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, warned the ruling NPP saying 'we are going to match them boot for boot'.

“We are not going to joke in 2020, and I’m sounding a warning to the NPP – we are going to match them boot for boot . . . I want to sound a caution that NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to unleashing violence, no one can beat us to that. It is just that we are mindful of this country’s democracy and that is why we must be the first to respect it. That is why we are acting as a party that is docile and respecting the rule of law. But if we believe that the government cannot protect our people and we believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we may have to advise ourselves.”

Hours after his remarks, Rev. Professor Asante, Chairman of the Peace Council opined; “if he said that, I would want to say that President Mahama, with all humility, I will plead with him to apologise to the nation. In making that statement, he has really created fear in the hearts of people. And it’s not just President Mahama I will say this to, I want to say this to all our leaders, people we are looking up to in this nation; that under such circumstances one would expect that they will be the voice of wisdom, a voice that will calm tension, a voice that will help Ghanaians to be able to say: Indeed, we have leaders. So, please let’s be very careful about these things that we say”.

Commenting on the issue, Asiedu Nketia told Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie, host of Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, that “those hypocrites condemning Mahama’s ‘boot for boot’ comment don’t want a solution to the electoral violence in the country because it is like using medicine meant for stomach-ache to treat headache”.

“They are addressing the symptoms of the problem (and not the problem itself), because there is no cause without effect . . . it means you don't want solution to the problem,” he insisted.