‘I Am Still A Member Of The NDC’ - Independent Parliamentary Candidate

The independent Parliamentary Aspirant for the Savelugu Constituency in the Northern Region, Mr. Alhassan Iddrisu Bunglung, has revealed that he is still a card bearing member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and will campaign to make sure President Mahama remains President come December 7.

According to Mr. Iddrisu, should he be elected as the MP, he would support the policies of the NDC in parliament.

He revealed this in an exclusive interview with Tamale based radio station, Justice FM. Mr. Iddrisu polled 2,046 votes during the NDC Parliamentary primaries last year, losing marginally to Mr. Abdulai Alhassan Red, the current Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Savelugu District who polled 2,094 votes.

Mr. Iddrisu intimated "the election was rigged", adding that if he stays aloof, the NDC will lose the seat which has been in their possession since 1996.

He further stated that his decision to go into the December election as an Independent Candidate was not solely his but that of the good people of his constituency.

Earlier this year, Mr. Iddrisu was asked to resign as the Northern Regional Accountant for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and a lot of accusing fingers were pointed at the MCE for orchestrating his resignation.

Mr. Iddrisu reiterated that though he could not say for a fact that the MCE masterminded his removal, a statement made by the MCE sometime ago when he visited him accounted for the reasons why he blamed the MCE. "The MCE told me that since I am in NCCE and I am campaigning, he can even write to my people to sack me from my work" Mr. Iddrisu said.

When asked about the developmental projects he had in mind, Mr Iddrisu indicated that he had three major projects to undertake should he be elected. To him, "uplifting the academic standards of schools and support for Girl-Child education, expansion of agriculture and better living condition for Peoples with Disabilities (PWD)" would be his top most priorities.

Being a renowned farmer, Mr. Iddrisu outlined what he intended to do in the Agricultural sector if elected. "Tractors, harvesters and other machinery needed for farming would be acquired to make the lives of farmers easy," he said. Speaking about post-harvest loses, he said, " I will provide farmers with good storage facilities for various crops being cultivated." He promised to eradicate social vices like smoking of marijuana, theft and prostitution when elected as Member of Parliament.

Meanwhile, Mr. Iddrisu denied allegations that he had been asked to step down by some respected party leaders and that his campaign is being sponsored by Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South and the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, and Hon. Mary Salifu Boforo, incumbent MP for Savelugu Constituency.

The MCE -cum- NDC Parliamentary Candidate and his supporters, Mr. Iddrisu alleged, were soiling their campaign with lies and deceit.

He emphasised that "neither the First Lady, Her Excellency Lordina Mahama nor His Excellency, Council of State member for Northern Region, Alhaji M. B. Bawah (Vo-naa) had ever asked me to step down".