Huge lobby for Nana Addo 2016

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Created on Wednesday, 04 September 2013 00:00

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Huge lobby for Nana Addo 2016

"If you want democracy without strategy then you don't want power", the rationale behind a huge lobby pushing for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to stand unopposed as the NPP's 2016 presidential candidate.

Chairman of Ashanti Region of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) F.F Antoh says the executives have declared support for Nana Akufo-Addo’s third bid at the presidency after losing out in 2008 and 2012 to the late President John Evans Atta Mills of the NDC.

The lobbying started immediately after the Supreme Court dismissed an Election Petition filed by the NPP to unseat president John Mahama as the legitimate winner of the December 2012 presidential elections. Nana Addo was first Petitioner in the eight-months Presidential Election Petition hearing.

In the wake of the defeat,the 2012 flagbearer said, he was taking some time off "the hurly-burly of politics" and would define his political future soon.

But speaking on JOY NEWS, NPP National Chairman Jake Obetsibi Lamtey says he has "never seen any bar in the constitution" dispelling rumours that the party's constitution could hinder the NPP stalwart from contesting the third time.

He said the party is stronger after losing out in court because the common grievance of electoral fraud in the 2012 elections is uniting the rank and file.

"There is a huge clamour" within the party for Nana Addo to run again in 2016, the party chairman confirmed. But as a leader, he insists he would only back the candidate the party chooses at Congress. Declaring any support for Nana Addo would weaken his role as a broker, he explained. Age is just a number?

He also dismissed concerns about Nana Addo's age saying the flagbearer who will turn 72 by 2016, is still strong because their 2012 presidential candidate, despite his age walked miles without fatigue during the campaign.

Age is therefore relative, he quipped. Jake said "I am younger than Nana Addo, but I act older"

Speaking on Joy News, F.F Antoh, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party said several party officials from different regions have called on him to express support for Nana Akufo-Addo.

He said market women in Kumasi are clamouring for the former Attorney-General as the best candidate to wrestle power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and "there will be a lot of disappointment" in the party if he declines.

He referred to President Kufuor who in 2004 was allowed to go unopposed as the party's candidate in 2008. He said that decision was taken because competition could create the impression that the party had not done well enough in its first tenure.

He continued that the late President John Evans Atta Mills contested as presidential candidate of the NDC, three times before he finally won in 2008.

He concluded, all these examples showed that "If you want democracy without strategy then you don't want power".

From: Myjoyonline.com|Edwin Appiah|This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.