Former Foreign Minister under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, James Victor Gbeho, has taken a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama by asking members of the party to throw their weight behind people with good records and not those that led the party to lose the 2016 election miserably.
According to him, the time has come for the party to rebrand and build on its shortfalls in 2016 by electing a flagbearer, who has a better chance of leading the party to win the 2020 election rather than “somebody who is a failure somewhere else.”
He, therefore, called on NDC loyalties to back the candidature of Professor Joshua Alabi, who he said has the character to rebuild the party and set it on course to win the 2020 presidential election.
Unpopular Figure
Mr. Mahama is gradually becoming unpopular in the NDC since losing the 2016 election, as some key figures in the party have washed their hands of him.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings, the founder of the party, has on many occasions stressed the need to choose a new presidential candidate to lead the party in the 2020 election.
He suggested that Mr. Mahama has been given an unfair advantage.
Former Finance Minister, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, who led a committee to investigate the cause of the NDC’s humiliating defeat in the 2016 elections, stated that integrity defects in the appointments of party executives and a general absence of ethical politics contributed to the party’s defeat.
Mr. Gbeho, who initially avoided the subject of the leadership of the NDC, has now taken a stance by supporting one of the opponents of former president.
Rebranding
Addressing NDC faithful at a meeting in Ashaiman, Mr. Gbeho suggested that Mr. Mahama and those who worked with him in the lead to the 2016 election ought to step aside for a new regime to take over.
“The reality now is that we are rebranding everything. In all democracies around the world when you go to an election and you lose as badly as we did, the leadership steps aside not because you want to sack people, but it gives the party an opportunity to rebrand itself to look at its faults and change its ways and that is what we are doing now,” the former Anlo MP admonished.
He said the party would make a big mistake if it relies solely on appearance and votes for Mr. Mahama again for the next election, saying it would be wrong to just follow somebody because he looks good.
“So let us not just follow somebody because he looks good. Vote for somebody who has proven to us that he runs things; he can make success for Ghana. If we choose amongst ourselves to look some other way to go and follow somebody who hasn’t proven himself or somebody, who is a failure somewhere else then we will have ourselves to blame,” Mr. Gbeho warned.
Alabi For 2020
Mr. Gbeho urged the party faithful to rally behind Prof. Joshua Alabi who has an enviable track-record which cannot be ignored.
“My brother (Hon Ken Dzirasah) and I sat down one afternoon by the riverside in Sogakope. We thought a lot about our party. We thought a lot about the younger generation. And we asked ourselves who can lead us now? After consultations, we agreed that our best hope was in no other person than Professor Joshua Alabi,” he asserted.
He told them that he and others have joined forces with Joshua Alabi because they think that is where the salvation of this country is going to come from.
“He has served in many capacities, minister, regional chairman, chairman of boards, and so forth. And he is in contact with people who know Ghana well abroad and who would cherish the opportunity to work with us on the Socialist International level,” he stressed.
“We are in this thing to win. We are not in this thing to be playing second fiddle to any other party, especially the NPP. So we have come to you, asking you to join us support Prof Joshua Alabi and we will not live to regret it,” Mr. Gbeho added.
Mahama Challenged
Meanwhile, the camp of Prof. Joshua Alabi has challenged the ‘Mahama boys’ to release a list of the 94 NDC MPs, who purportedly endorsed the candidature of the former president.
The contest for the flagbearership position of the main opposition party is heating up, and the camp of the former president, in a bid to boost his chances, has claimed that the majority of the NDC MPs have given Mr. Mahama the green light.
It has turned out that those who actually signed the document were coerced into doing so on the back of a promise for future ministerial positions while others were cunningly misled to sign the form.
Some of the Minority MPs have disclosed that they were blackmailed to sign the document which was supposed to seek endorsement for Mahama.
Source: Daily Guide
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Another old foollllllllll who speak like his master jj is also making rubbishhhhh comment about mahama you what haf u achieved in life uselessssss old guards who are selfish nada corrupt like dear master jj livery mahama alone and project your candidate but I can assure you some of you will die soon hypocrites
Oh ho Victor Gbeho, I quite remember Alhaji Asuma Banda told Nana Addo similar in opposition. Now see where Asuma Banda is? Victor Gbeho, you are a statesman, these words are unfortunate to be coming from you.
Oh massa TK why do you cause me to throw out like this? Mahama himself knows that he's seriously messed up as president and the evidence is clear for all to see except those of you who have feigned blindness because of perhaps some NOKO FIO. But never deceive yourself like that again. Mahama is the envy of who? Anokware mpo!
Mahama is the envy of all after Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
This old school men thinks we are ***barred word*** and can't read in between the lines. They like Jerry are greedy people. They don't appreciate what God has done for them but they should remember from today going no fake tribute will be read at any funeral. We know nothing but greed is what is motivating them to brake the NDC.They have serve this country in many capacities when they were young men but they are ***barred word*** of the young politicians running the show today because they feels this guys have made more money than them. My advice to them is that whatever they do their time is past and they should support the young MAhama because after all it is obvious he is better manager of Ghana than our current president. If they try to continue in the way and manner they are going we shall all descend to the gutter. This Anti Manama thing won't work so they better stop that enterprise.
yh we all know that and that is why we showed him the exit. only the most greedy ones among u wants him to lead ur party.
Akpala Kpaji or whatever you call yourself, instead of comparing Mahama with Former presidents Rawlings,Kuffour,Mills, (may his soul rest in peace)or president Nana Addo look where you're strolling. You see where your failure begins? Even though you went astray, I think you could have done your usel3ss comparison without your stuupdd insinuations and insults on a person like Mr. Victor Gbeho. Mind you, you were comparing a former president to a Diploma so now you realize why you're a failure? all you're good at is insult elders most probably your father as well...Shaaaaaame
Ex-President John Mahama is NOT a failure. He might have his weaknesses, like every human being, BUT he is definitely NOT a failure. Victor Gbeho is rather a failure. He failed miserably as President of the ECOWAS Commission, where he was only running after small girls and small pecks here and there. He should tell us what he achieved as ECOWAS President compared to what John Mahama achieved as President of Ghana. If I should catalogue Victor Gbeho's failures here, he will ran and hide for the rest of his life. And so he should keep his mouth shut. If we are talking about failures in life, Victor Gbeho should be the last person to open his mouth.
Are u really a member of the umbrella party? Where were u when he was failing? And what did u do? Pls. Maintain ur respect, my brother.
Gbeho has an ***barred word*** mouth and should not talk about Mahama