'I never said Northerners only fit for running mates, I said Muslims' — Hopeson Adorye clarifies

The former NPP Parliamentary candidate for Kpone Katamanso constituency and operations manager for ‘Team Alan’, Hopeson Yaovi Adorye has clarified his widely criticized tribal comments against Vice President Bawumia and Northerners.

A team of Alan Kyerematen loyalists on Saturday, August 13, stormed the streets of the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, for a health walk dubbed, "Walk for Alan.”

Mr. Adorye, addressing the gathering, claimed that the next flagbearership position of the NPP must go to the Busia gate which is Alan Kyerematen and not the Dombo gate, Dr. Bawumia.

NPP stalwart claims that, “there is one thing I am going to say. The NPP has a tradition. Our tradition is Busia, Danquah and Dombo. Danquah represents Eastern Region and the bottom (south), Danquah represents Ashanti Region and the Bono areas, while Dombo represents Northern Regio’n’.

He continued: “whenever a Danquah leads the party, the Busia side steps aside but there is a Dombo (for a running mate), and whenever a Busia leads, the Danquah side steps aside but there is a Dombo (for a running mate). As for the Dombo’s they are always there (for a running mate).”

The comment has compelled some members of the elephant fraternity (NPP) to fire verbal attacks at him for what they believe to be tribal bigotry against NPP members in the North.

In his defence, Mr. Adorye claims that members of Bawumia's camp doctored his viral video for mischief.

He explained that “I wish to state categorically that, I never said in plain words that Northerners are fit for running mates. The video is partly doctored for mischief by Bawumia's Camp.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I stated that in NPP there is a particular formula that has been used since the formation of the Party. The formula is Christian-Muslim Ticket.”

Find his full statement as shown below:

I Never Said Northerners are fit for Running Mates: Hopeson Adorye Clarifies

It has come to my attention some misleading headlines attributed to me indicating that, "In our Party tradition, Northerners are fit for running Mates". This was published by some online news portals and widely circulated by Bawumia Camp aims at destroying Alan Kyerematen and inciting Northerners against me Hopeson Adorye.

I wish to state categorically that, I never said in plain words that Northerners are fit for running mates. The video is partly doctored for mischief by Bawumia's Camp.

For the avoidance of doubt, I stated that, in NPP there is a particular formula that has been used since the formation of the Party. The formula is Christian-Muslim Ticket.

In fact, since 1992, we are the only Party that has practised Christian-Muslim Ticket since 1992. NDC at all times used Christian-Christian Ticket yet dominate all the Muslims Constituencies including Zango.

In 1992, NPP presented Christian Albert Adu Boahen and Muslim Roland Issifu Alhassan.

From 1998 to 2008, NPP presented Christian John Agyekum Kufuor and Muslim Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

From 2008 up to date, NPP has presented Christian Akufo-Addo and Muslim Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Therefore per the formula, the running-mate since 1992 has been a permanent reserved position for the Dombo's camp regardless of whether a Dankwa protégé or Busia protégé is leading the Party as the Flagbearer. This is exactly what I said and it is supported by historical data and science.

Akufo-Addo's camp told Aliu Mahama and Alan Kyerematen to wait for their turns. So now what is so difficult for Bawumia to also wait for his turn after his senior Alan Kyerematen?

Signed... Hopeson Yaovi Adorye Former Parliamentary Candidate of Kpone-Katamanso Constituency