General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, has broken his silence, after reeling under bombardments by his critics, for declaring that “Nana Addo would lead the NPP in 2016, even when in wheelchair.
According to him, what he said represented what was running through the grassroots people and sympathizers of the NPP across the country.
“People did not understand me and I will not run away from what I said because what I said was the true picture of what was on the ground,” he maintained.
Mr. Afriyie, popularly called ‘Sir John’, in an interview with The Enquirer newspaper yesterday via phone on happenings within the NPP stressed that his position on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will not change.
“What I said is simple plain fact and those attacking me are aware of the fact that Nana Addo is the one the people want,” he said. According to him, those who are attacking have hit the snag upon their interaction with the rank and file of the party.
“Those people have been told in the face that they cannot help the party in anyway and now they feel that I am the person they can target,” he said.
“The people attacking me are not on the ground, they don’t even know the aspiration of the supporters, they are just pursuing their own parochial interest,” he said.
Mr. Afriyie, who shared a wide range of issues with The Enquirer in the early hours of yesterday, said that it is clear that some people get scared when they hear Nana Addo’s name.
“I am not worried about what people are saying that I am riding at Nana Addo’s back at all as it tells how popular Nana Addo is,” he said.
According to him, those attacking him are just running away from the truth which is about Nana Addo’s popularity.
“The talk about Nana Addo being popular within the NPP and not popular among floating voters is something that is very interesting,” he contended.
He said: “Those attacking him and casting Nana Addo do not have any iota of truth in what they are saying because they don’t have any means to identify floating voters.
Mr. Afriyie told The Enquirer that those who are attacking him are simply afraid of Nana Addo.
“The NPP has not barred anybody from contesting to lead the party but they have seen that Nana Addo’s popularity has soared and they are scared stiff,” he added.
“As a General Secretary I have not asked anybody not to contest him and the race is open that is why certain persons have the chance to go round to say things about Nana Addo,” he said.
He said: “As General Secretary, I am aware of how some people are going round the country campaigning for somebody else they want to lead the party in 2016.
“My position on what is going on is clear. They have tested the ground, they have seen that the people want Nana Addo which means that is the end of the road for them so they are turning their guns on Sir John for telling them what the grassroots people are saying,” he said.
The NPP has been in flames after the crushing Supreme Court verdict on the petition.
In recent times, it is a battle between Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, who is alleged to have cast certain aspersion against Nana Addo and those who strongly believe that Nana Addo should be made to lead the party for the third time.
Mr. Afriyie came under severe attack for saying that Nana Addo would contest to lead the party even when he is in a wheelchair.
His position emerged immediately the Supreme Court gave its verdict.
Persons like Mr. P.C. Appiah-Ofori are of the view that Nana Addo should lead the party in 2016.
Other people are also saying that there should be a change because Nana Addo has lost the Presidential elections twice.
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