Expectations of the main opposition party, NPP were dashed on Sunday when former President Rawlings, who they are banking their hopes on to offer them campaign message, chose to expose their historical antecedents.
NPP fanatics had hoped the outspoken former President’s speech will be critical as usual of the Mahama administration as has been the trend since 2009. But the JJ Rawlings, astute politician as he has become chose to remind the NDC of NPP’s treachery and the need be focused, tolerant and campaign on its own terms.
The former President who was addressing thousands of supporters at NDC’s Campaign Launch urged the party not to be complacent.
“Let me just give you one point. The NPP cannot be underestimated, you know it and I know it. They’ve been in existence for a long time, and have been changing their names up till this day. The nature of who they are, and what they are and where they’ve come from, it’s something they are happy with and they will be there for a long time.”
Characteristic of Mr. Rawlings in his happy mood, his message was interspersed with humour to the applause of the elated party supporters who demonstrated an unblemished bondage with the founder of the party.
Jerry Rawlings advice comes in the wake of increasing provocations and threats of mayhem by the NPP which has consistently tried to indict the integrity of the Electoral Commission as defeat stares at its 72-year old flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo.
Disappointed NPP officials have since tried to divert attention by suggesting that the former President did not endorse John Mahama. But Campaign Coordinator of the NDC, Kofi Adams has responded strongly rubbishing those assertions.
“Rawlings was at the event to launch NDC’s campaign. He happily joined the NDC family and his message was characterized with the word ‘WE’ suggesting inclusion. The former President chose to advise a winning team and cautioned them against complacency, that’s what an astute leader tells a united party’ he told Nii Ardey Clegg on Star FM’s breakfast show on Monday.
The main opposition party, as Jerry Rawlings reminded the NDC in the packed newly built Cape Coast stadium should not be underestimated because of his own experience.
The NPP, is on record for acts intended to dampen investor confidence in Ghana and statements aimed at creating unnecessary tension in the country. The Danquah-Dombo-Busiaparty and its tradition, according to historical facts undermined Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah even before the country gained independence. It metamorphosed into the UP tradition and the NPP which today is known for organizing protests home and abroad to damage the reputations of regimes other than theirs.
When the Kufuor Administration assumed office in 2001, the party tried to destroy the Rawlings legacy and the NDC but failed in spite of huge sums of monies paid to journalists, Think Tanks and groups to do their dirty work.
The NPP did not spare late President Atta Mills and John Mahama is not off their hook. Heaps of insults have been hurled at Mr Mahama’s personality since NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo’s second defeat, amidst fabrications and provocations intended to illicit a response that will create tension in the country.
Former President Rawlings, mindful of the intentions of the NPP added, “It’s important than we fight them on our terms. What are those terms? In other words, let’s not mimic their behaviour. Let us reach into the principles and the values they emerged out of the circumstances that gave birth to us. And if we can hold onto those principles and those values, we will move way into the future and no one can ever defeat us. We will ride and override any obstacle as we did in the past. Mimic them as some of them are doing and we will run into problems.”
Foot soldiers of the party left the event fulfilled especially after witnessing the enthusiasm and the strong bondage among the leadership whose message has charged them to unleash an aggressive campaign to for a convincing victory in 2016.
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