Veep Support Base Widens

The support base of Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, one of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopefuls in the on-going flagbearership race towards the 2008 general elections seems to be widening every passing day.

This is because one of his campaign mouthpieces, Club A 600, has in the past few weeks given the Veep's already strong political stature a further boost by its activities.

At the inauguration of one of the club's branches in Hohoe over the weekend, thousands of party foot-soldiers who thronged the premises of the Saint Theresa's Training College had declared their total support for Alhaji Aliu, saying they were attracted by his sense of duty, discipline and moral uprightness.

The inauguration, which happens to be the third of such events, after Berekum and Tamale, attracted various supporters and well-wishers from different parts of the Volta, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Greater Accra, Central, Western and the three Northern regions.

So overwhelming was the crowd that the organisers had to take a few more ad-hoc steps to contain the unexpected attendants, many of whom had filled the assembly hall to capacity long before noon.

When the programme finally took-off, a larger number of enthusiasts who could not gain access to the hall stood outside peeping through the windows.

Speaking to the teeming crowd, the national president of the club, Mr. Steven Deelarbi thanked the attendants for their keen interest in the club whose motive is to win more support for the Vice President, advising them not to lose focus on the task they had set to do.

He appealed to them to embark on clean campaign and refrain from insulting other aspirants, stressing that it was against the guidelines of the party to destroy the image of others.

He explained that they supported Alhaji Aliu Mahama because they saw him to be the best man to take over from President John Agyekum Kufuor; moreover, he had successfully acted in that capacity anytime the President was not around.

Mr. Deelarbi expressed the happiness that in all the places the club was launched, the response had been very overwhelming, indicating that people from all walks of life had shown great interest in the club by enquiring on how they could become members.

According to him, those who think the December 22 primaries would go for a second round should take that out of their mind because Alhaji Aliu Mahama was going to win hands down and save the party that extra cost.

He later presented four motorbikes to the Volta Regional branch of the club to advance the cause for which it was formed.

Solidarity messages were given by guest constituency executives after which the teeming crowed were treated to some good music, including the newly-released Aliu Mahama campaign song.

Even though the organisers decided to call off an intended float, the jubilant crowd flouted that decision and poured unto the principal streets of the town.

Club A 600 is a group of like-minded individuals who, out of love, have come together to voluntarily campaign for His Excellency the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

More branches are expected to be launched in other parts of the country soon.

From Bennett Akuaku, Hohoe