Mahama Is Joking
THREE OUT of the four People's National Convention (PNC) Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday kicked against their flagbearer, Dr. Edward Mahama's suggestion that the party should form an alliance with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
They were Haruna Bayirga of Sissala West, Moses Dani Baah of Sissala East and John Akparibo Ndebugre of Zebilla. Though the fourth MP, David Apasera of Bolgatanga was not present to be interviewed, Bayirga and Dani Baah claimed he shared a common view with them as they had earlier communicated with him on telephone.
Hon. Ndebugre, who was very dismissive of the suggestion which allegedly emanated from the flagbearer, said the only reason behind the alliance of convenience was “clear opportunism.”
According to him, “politically and practically, it does not make sense. Dr. Mahama has only been acting unconstitutionally, that is his stock-in-trade and he has been doing so all the time.”
He described the embattled flagbearer's decision as one that “defies sound political analysis” and “it is simply imprudent”.
According to the Zebilla MP who trained as both lawyer and chemical engineer, “the historical antecedent of the NDC was so repugnant to that of the PNC and that they cannot sit together”. It was based on that dissimilarity that the four PNC MPs, he said, opted to sit with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs rather than the minority NDC.
Recalling the violent way in which Jerry Rawlings, then a military officer, overthrew former President Hilla Limann, Ndebugre said a proposed coalition with the NDC, founded by Rawlings, was not only repugnant, but also a betrayal of what Dr. Limann stood for.
“We maintain our strength only at the expense of the NDC. We are not in contention with the NPP but the NDC. What then is the political prudence in the alliance?”
He concluded that the only reason one might adduce was that Dr. Mahama's suggestion gave credence to recent speculations that either he or the NDC wanted to make him the running mate of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.
Earlier, Hon. Bayirga said he found it rather inconceivable that the PNC flagbearer would ever propose an alliance with the NDC.
“We have been working at a coalition with the CPP but not the NDC.
“The youth will not forgive us if we don't take unity issues seriously.”
According to him, though Dr. Mahama might have the liberty to make his views known on unity matters, they remained “his personal opinions which are not binding on the entire party.”
Like Ndebugre, Bayirga, who doubles as the party national organiser, just did not see the possibility of a PNC- NDC coalition, giving the historical origins of the two and how the PNDC/ NDC ill treated Dr. Limann.
Hon. Dani Baah, a former Deputy Minister of Health in the first half of the Kufuor administration, was visibly shocked by the proposed alliance.
“I have been attending Steering Committee meetings and I have never heard about any alliance with NDC. PNC and CPP is what I know about.”
In his view, since the PNC as a political party mainly rested on the crest of Dr. Hilla Limann's fortunes, it would just be inappropriate for any coalition with the NDC, which is not Nkrumaist.