It is a fact that the NDC is going through some stormy waters with regard to the issue of who partners the party’s Leader, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
It is a fact that three names; Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, John Dramani Mahama, and Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, are doing the rounds as those who are in pole position to be chosen as running mate.
Whether Professor Atta Mills will choose any of the three, is another matter.
It is also a fact that some serious and intense lobbying is going on.
Indeed, lobbying is a very legitimate weapon in politics and I have no problem
For a fact, it is very clear that victory beckons for the NDC that is why there seems to be so much intense lobbying this time around.
In 2000, even when the NDC was in power, and assumed that it would retain power, there was no such intense open lobbying.
Likewise in 2004, there was no open intense lobbying.
This time around, there seems to be a very intense and open lobbying on behalf of the three persons who have their names doing the rounds as persons most likely to partner Professor Atta Mills.
On the part of Betty Mould Iddrisu in particular, there seems to be a more than intense lobbying and that is what is catching the attention of this writer.
In spite of the fact that I respect the rights of individuals and groups to lobby, I think that the lobbying that is coming from the corner of Betty Mould Iddrisu, is reaching levels that can be said to be unacceptable.
When the process of lobbying for Betty is getting to the point where the integrity of Professor Atta Mills and the other persons in the race, are being brought into question, it is the informed opinion of this writer that some persons are carrying their lobbying agenda to unacceptable levels.
Also, the attempt by some of those lobbying for Betty Mould Iddrisu, to create the impression that when their choice candidate does not get the nod, Prof will face their wrath, is very unfortunate and highly uncalled for.
I am NOT against the attempt by a group of women to fight the course of women. Far from it!
But when the impression is being created by some persons, in their attempt to champion the course of women, that minus a woman running mate, Professor Mills will be buried alive, I find that line of thinking very unfortunate.
If all the other interests groups within the party decide to issue threats, what will become of the NDC?
The issuing of threats on behalf of Betty Mould Iddrisu, is certainly not going to be the path that will lead Betty to being chosen as the running mate.
Generally, people resent it when people issue threats and we dare say that Betty is not doing her cause any good by getting people to issue threats on her behalf.
When on Monday, a group of women presented a petition to Professor Mills saying that the good professor should consider choosing Betty as his running mate, I thought that was a very genuine and acceptable way of going about it.
Of course, Professor Mills listened to the women and received their written petition and promised that he will make sure he considers their position deeply before finally taking a decision on who his running mate will be.
That was a very nice and legitimate way of going about it.
If a women’s group has made a case on behalf of Betty, why the need for the issuing of threats by Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings on the airwaves in support of Betty?
I may also have waded into the waters to lobby for Betty but as things stand now, I SHALL no longer jump into that water because it has been muddied too much with the unacceptable position of the likes of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, who are issuing threats on behalf of Betty.
The NDC is a party that is governed by laws and conventions and not by threats, and there is no way I will support any group of persons who issue threats and call people names, as the channel through which their position is communicated.
All said and done, some of us know it for a fact that Professor Atta Mills will operate according to the rules of the NDC and will come out at the right time with his preferred choice.
Nobody SHALL intimidate or stampede Professor Mills and the NDC into taking any decision that will pander to the sectarian interest of only a handful of people.
The NDC, as a body corporate, is supreme, and its interest flies high and above the interest of a few people in the party.
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