‘Running Mate Is Secondary’

THE MINISTER for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Alhaji Boniface Abubakari Saddique has stated that the issue of he being picked as running mate to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was a secondary matter to him. 

His primary priority, he indicated, was the Salaga seat since it was through it that he became marketable both nationally and internationally. 

Alhaji Boniface said he owes allegiance to the seat since it was an elected position and not an appointed one.  

The Minister, who was answering questions from journalists after his re-election as the NPP parliamentary candidate in Salaga last Saturday, said he cherished the seat and that he would not relinquish it with the excuse that he had been tipped as a possible running mate.  

He stated that these were mere speculations as the party hierarchy had not notified him on that subject.
 
The choice of running mate, he explained, was the prerogative of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) and the flagbearer. 

On how he would feel should the mantle of running mate fall on him, Alhaji Boniface said he would be grateful; “For every person who gets into the army as a recruit has the ambition of becoming a general,” he remarked.  

Having risen through various ranks in government from a deputy minister and now a cabinet minister, he indicated that it would be the best news for him should he be made the running mate and would thank the good people of the country. 

The minister was last weekend retained as the NPP parliamentary candidate for Salaga after a primary in the constituency. 

He won by a yawning gap, beating his rival, Alhaji Issah Danjumah, a UK-based Film Editor and businessman, with 107 votes as against the latter's 9.  

This is the second time the minister is contesting on the party's ticket after 2004.  

He was however in Parliament in 2000 as an independent candidate and joined the NPP afterwards. 

He attributed his re-election to his loyalty to the party through the construction of an ultra modern party office, his dedication to duty at both the constituency and national levels and his honesty. 

There are however hints that the NPP is considering yet another northerner as running mate.

The Kufuor-Aliu formula which ensured a two-time victory for the NPP would be maintained, should Nana Addo pick a northerner as his running mate. 

From Stephen Zoure, Salaga