Veep President Advises Dagombas

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama yesterday called on Dagombas to bury the protracted Abudu/Andani chieftaincy dispute that is sapping their vigour and resources and rather wage a relentless war against poverty and deprivation.

He noted that, while Dagombas were wasting their time to fight conflicts, other communities living in relative peace and stability, were making steady progress.

Vice President Mahama made the call when he attended the funeral of the late Imam of Tamale Central Mosque, Adam Abdulai who died last week at the age of 81 and had been the Head of the Mosque for 43 years.

The Abudu/Andani conflict flared up in 2001 leading to the death of the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-na Yakubu Andani II and a number of traditional elders.

Vice President Mahama said, in unity lied strength, hence the need for Dagombas to put their hands on deck to lift the traditional area from the tight grip of under-development. He said he had been an object of vicious attacks in Dagbon due to the numerous intra-ethnic conflicts although he had served the North faithfully and loyally as a businessman for 25 years, before engaging in active politics.

'I have helped in diverse ways to advance the course of Northerners and the record is there for all to see,' he said.

Vice President Mahama called for a change in attitude to push the area forward. He asked for the prayers of the people to enable him succeed in his bid to lead the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Election 2008.

Vice President Mahama is among 17 presidential hopefuls seeking the mandate of the NPP on the December 22 Delegates' Congress to succeed President John Agyekum Kufuor on January 7, 2008 as Head of State.

Commenting on the late Imam, he said he was a man of principle who always stood by the truth. He described his death as a great loss to the nation and expressed the hope that as a righteous man he would certainly be with Allah in paradise.