As the controversy over alleged presidential support for a particular candidate rages on, more aspirants for the presidential candidature of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) continue to express concern about how such a development could pose a threat to the fortunes of the party.
The latest aspirant to pour his heart out on the issue is Dr. Arthur Kennedy who has actually documented his concerns pointing out historical facts of how presidential supports for candidates have caused the downfall of political parties and individuals around the world.
Dr. Kennedy while admiring the experience and good works of the president admonishes that he should not do anything to lend credence to the perception that he supports any aspirant since if he does it will have grave consequences on the party.
Below is the instructive statement issued by the Presidential aspirant, Dr. Arthur Kennedy.
One of the most contentious issues is whether the President, HE John Agyekum Kufuor has a candidate or candidates in the race.
Since the beginning of this race, there have been a number of candidates who have been identified as the President's candidate.
In some instances, supporters of such candidates have behaved in a manner that has fuelled this perception. In the last few days, some newspapers have not only reported on this issue but editorialized on it. My purpose here is not to focus on the President's rumoured candidate but to explore the question of Presidential endorsements.
First, let me be on the record that the President, like every citizen and every member of our party has the right to support any candidate of his choice. The question is whether that is prudent looking at history.
It should be recalled that as one of her last political acts in a glorious career, Madam Hawa Yakubu, during an NPP meeting passionately appealed to the President to stay neutral during the NPP race.
Historically, such endorsements have caused more harm than good. Zambia's Chiluba had his preferred successor in Mwanawasa but has since been hounded by the law for scandals during his administration. Years earlier, Cameroon's Ahidjo, facing resignation on health grounds, picked Paul Biya to succeed him and later spent years trying to unseat him.
In Nigeria, President Obasanjo put his prestige behind the candidacy of Yar Adua as his successor and got his wish while bringing his country to the brink of a political crisis.
Even as I write, President Obasanjo's luster as a democrat and elder statesman has been dented significantly while his designated successor, a fine man in his own right, is trying to rebuild the bonds that were fractured within Nigeria by his election so that he can govern credibly.
In 1912, former US President Theodore Roosevelt who had his preferred successor elected in 1908, ended up running against that successor, William Howard Taft and helped elect Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, to the Presidency.
Even here in Ghana, the perils of such endorsements have been clearly demonstrated. In 1979, a group of People's National Party( PNP) big-wigs decided to nominate a new face with no baggage and no experience whom they thought would be easy to elect and to manipulate.
Unfortunately for them, once elected, Dr Hilla Limann proved to be his own man, probably to the detriment of his party and our nation. Nearly two decades later, the ruling NDC were getting ready for a vigorous campaign when President Rawlings made his infamous " SWEDRU DECLARATION".
With that declaration, the NDC nomination contest became a coronation. However, the beneficiary of the declaration, Professor Evans Atta Mills got tagged as a stooge of Rawlings and was weighed down by that perception. He has since lost two elections and may lose a third.
We may never know what might have been if Limann had not been foisted on the PNP and Atta Mills had been nominated without the heavy anchor of the "SWEDRU DECLARATION" by the NDC.
As Santayana said, "Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat its tragedies". Let the President and the NPP leadership beware, lest we repeat one of history's tragedies.
My judgment is that the President WILL NOT ENDORSE, SUPPORT OR GIVE REASON FOR PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT HE SUPPORTS A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE!!
Here are my reasons;
First, with his brother in the race, if he supports his brother, he will be accused of nepotism and if he supports someone else, it will be an inappropriate and untraditional betrayal of his brother. That will lead to some unpleasant family conversations.
Second, his Vice-President is running. When a President picks a Vice-President, he indicates that if he were unable to complete his term that is the person he trusts to complete his mandate. Supporting someone else would be a tacit admission that Mr. Aliu's nomination in 2000 and 2004 were mistakes.
Third, this President is too smart to miss the lessons of his own candidacy against Adu-Boahen in 1996 or the stinging rebuke the party gave him for openly supporting Stephen Ntim, who was otherwise a fine candidate.
Fourth, during the rally that followed the NPP congress in January, the President promised to give whole-hearted support to whoever the party nominates and work for their election. THE PRESIDENT SHOULD AND WILL KEEP HIS WORD!
The larger interest of his influence with the next President, the party's interest, the nation's interest and the guidance of history all point in the same direction; neutrality.
Therefore, while the President may privately wish a particular candidate success, in public he will be neutral. There will be no overt word or deed that will indicate otherwise.
This President, who is so experienced and so wise, will not make such a basic mistake!
Let us wish all the candidates well and have fun.
KUKRUDU!!!
