<<Print>>

Lepowura Mahamadu Nuru-Deen Jawula has given the assurance that he will be prepared to work in all sincerity with Nana Akufo-Addo, NPP flagbearer, to ensure victory for the party in the 2012 elections, irrespective of whoever he picks as his running mate. Alhaji Jawula expects all his colleague leading members of the NPP to do same, by relegating their individual and sectional interests to the background, and work together towards achieving the party�s broad interest of dislodging the ruling NDC from power in 2012. In the view of the leading NPP member, even though Ghanaians are itching to see the exit of the NDC from the corridors of power, the NPP �cannot achieve the much needed victory on a silver platter. � �The NDC�s glaring failures are there for all to see, but the fact of the matter is that the failures will not translate into automatic victory for [us]. And that is why we have to remain focused and stick together to prosecute a very effective campaign towards the elections,� stated the man who had to resign from the Civil Service in 2008 after he was spotted in NPP colours during a party event at Kasoa. Alhaji Jawula, a top public servant with over 30 years experience in public and sports administration, is considered the most experienced of the frontrunners being considered for selection as Nana Akufo-Addo�s running mate for the 2012 election. The Lepowura also noted that he and the other three frontrunners owe the NPP a huge responsibility to work to keep the party�s unity and cohesion intact after one of them has been eventually selected to run with Nana Akufo-Addo. The others on the list of consideration are Mahamadu Bawumia, the 2008 running mate, Ambrose Dery, MP for Lawra-Nandom and deputy Minority Leader, and Alhaji Haruna Alhassan. Nana Akufo-Addo appears not only committed to the old tradition of South-North ticket, but also the Christian-Muslim tradition, even though there is a strong school of thought that he should at least break away from the Christian-Muslim tradition. While the party awaits the final decision and announcement of the eventual running mate, Alhaji Jawula�s message for his colleagues is simple: �We need to stick together after the final decision has been made. When one of us is chosen, the rest should all rally around the ticket, demonstrate absolute loyalty and sincerity and work together to ensure victory in the 2012 election. � Alhaji Jawula believes if he is offered the honour of running with Nana Addo, he can bring a lot to bear on the ticket �to ensure that we get the needed votes to bring the elephant back from the bush, with Nana sitting in front and myself behind, riding to the Jubilee House with our teeming members and supporters. � The Lepowura is highly respected for his sterling performance as top civil servant and football administrator, as a result of which the state conferred the Order of the Volta Award on him in 2008.