No Mallam or Chief Imam can force Mahama to sack Murtala - NDC Chair

Northern Regional Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Sofo Azorka has warned chiefs, Imams and Mallams in the Northern Region to stop meddling in partisan issues, especially the recent political gaffe by the Member of Parliament for Nantong, Murtala Mohammed.

The Nantong NDC MP over the weekend accused an unnamed colleague Member of Parliament in the area of greasing the palms of chiefs and opinion leaders in the Northern Region with “filthy, ill-gotten money.”

Murtala Mohammed was also incensed over what he described as attempts by the MP to unseat him and dared him (MP) to do his worse.

Following his public accusation, many people including Chiefs, Mallams and Opinion Leaders in the Northern Region urged President John Dramani Mahama to sack the Nantong MP, who also happens to be the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, though he has rendered an apology.

Reacting to the Chief's demands, Sofo Azorka fumed on Oman Fm’s "National Agenda" program saying several politicians have spewed "nonsense on radio and in Parliament" yet no civil society organisation or chief has called for action against such elected officials or public servants.

“No Mallam or Chief Imam can ask for the removal of Murtala Mohammed from his post. We hear a lot of nonsense on radio stations and in Parliament and nothing happens; it is wrong for any chief Imam or Mallam to ask that the President sacks Murtala, and moreover he didn’t mention anybody’s name in his allegation,” he charged.

Whiles conceding that the Deputy Trade and Industry Minister acted out of anger, he said, "it is a common trait among human beings as people react to issues differently and later regret their actions," saying that is exactly the same in Hon. Murtala Mohammed's case.

He therefore gave the assurance that the controversy raised as a result of the NDC MP's accusation, will be resolved amicably using party internal structures before the end of this weekend; and reassured the rank and file of the NDC that there is peace in the party in the Northern region.