Safeguard Nation’s Interests First - Veep

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has advised flag bearers and aspiring flag bearers of the various political parties to be circumspect in their campaigns to ensure continuous stability of the country.

“Although we are all aspiring to be winners, we need to ensure that we do so in a manner that will not compromise the stability of this great nation of ours,” he said.

The Vice-President said this when he addressed some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who had thronged the residency of the Western Regional Minister, Mr A. E. Amoah, to welcome him on his visit to the region.

The supporters, who drummed and sang, also congratulated him on filing his nomination to contest the flag-bearer position of the party.

The Vice-President's official visit forms part of a three-regional tour of the Western, Ashanti and Northern regions, where he is scheduled to inspect on-going government development projects.

Alhaji Mahama said “as leaders, we should not incite our people against each other because that can spark hatred and divide the nation”, adding that “God has already ordained the winner”.

He said he had the calling to lead the country, and was sure of a resounding victory come December 22, 2007.
The Vice-President is among 19 other candidates contesting the flagbearership of the NPP.

“I have worked with President Kufuor for the past seven years, and I have understudied him,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama said with that experience, there was no better candidate to continue the good work of President Kufuor than him.

He said unlike the other vice- presidents in the past, he had not had any confrontation with President Kufuor, and that showed his maturity and commitment to do his job as a vice- president.

He said when given the job, he would excel to the expectation of the NPP, adding that among all the candidates, he was the most popular because of his numerous rounds across the length and breadth of the country.

“I have travelled and met people everywhere. I eat with them, I drink with them and I chat with them to know their problems. Those that I can solve immediately, I do so and those that I need further deliberations, I follow them up,” he said.

Alhaji Mahama said with those traits, he hoped the delegates were very much aware of his experience and would, therefore, vote for him.

Story by Charles Benoni Okine & Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu