Unity Or Calamity
“Let's unite as a party. I have said this before; I would rather be a messenger in a winning party, taking over government, than be a proud General Secretary of a losing party, which would be in opposition.”
The above is a quote from the speech delivered by former 'Omanpanin' Don Barima JAK at the Ferdinand Ayim Memorial Lectures about a fortnight ago.
Like all wise and thought-provoking sayings, it generated a lot of debate in Asomdwekrom. Before I lay bare my views on the subject, please permit me to share a few experiences that would make you appreciate my perspective better.
As growing kids living in mud houses in Niikrom, we used to envy a playmate called Kwamena, who lived in a very beautiful two-storey house with his rich aunt. However, we were surprised to notice that he was usually not as happy as those of us coming from poor homes.
We tried in vain to make him spit the cause of his sadness, until the day he didn't show up for a football match and we decided to check on him in the house.
Of course, we all rushed to Kwamena's house because we saw it as an opportunity to have a glimpse of the interior of the most beautiful house in our neighbourhood. It would be an understatement to say the beauty of the interior stunned us. It was a very beautiful spectacle to behold.
But what surprised us more was the shabby treatment meted out to Kwamena by the aunt and her children.
They treated him like a slave. When we met at our rendezvous the following day, he confessed that was the daily dose of treatment he received hence his sullenness and moroseness.
He also admitted he would rather live in a mud house and get motherly or fatherly love, or both, as we have, than live in a beautiful blockhouse and be treated like a slave.
While on a visit to Morocco last year, I had the privilege of interacting with many Asomdwekromanian students there.
Although some of them seemed happy, they all complained of racial discrimination against them by the Arabs.
I also saw some Asomdwekromanian 'hustlers' (those seeking greener pastures) whose situation was pitiful. One hustler, who claimed to be a Certificate 'A' teacher, expressed profound regret for seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
“Even though I was not paid well back home, I was at least treated with dignity,” he said.
Indeed, the only song most of the hustlers sang was, “we should have stayed in our poor country where we had some modicum of dignity, instead of living here where we are treated like lepers.”
Abusuapanin, what former 'Omanpanin' Don Barima JAK did during the Ferdinand Ayim Memorial Lectures was nothing but to state the obvious. He only told members of his party what they already knew but were refusing to admit. That is to say, irrespective of one's position in a party, it is better to be with the winners than be with the losers.
In fact, members of the Osono fraternity need not be reminded of the trials and tribulations they had to endure since they handed over power to the Zu-za administration. Depriving their most prized asset today, Don Barima JAK, of his entitlements; the seizure of their cars by Gbevlo Lartey's boys; the travel embargo on Stephen Asamoah-Boateng; the constant harassment by BNI operatives under the guise of investigations; the seizure of toilets by members of Zu-za; and the dismissal of some of their members from NADMO, Zoomlion and other government agencies, are but a few of the tribulations they had to endure since Zu-za assumed power.
Power is very sweet, and members of the Osono family do not need to be told because members of the Zu-za family have amply demonstrated it since they took power about eight moons ago.
In case Osono members have forgotten, I would like to refresh their minds on the show of 'krakye' powers by people like Victor Smith; the gross disrespect for the elderly by people like Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, the Hon. King of Mendacity; Zu-za 'volunteers' wining, dining and riding in posh cars at the expense of the poor Asomdwekromanian for no work done; the flagrant flexing of muscles and the easy accessibility to the corridors of power by both small and big fishes in the Zu-za waters; and the award of appointments and juicy contracts to party loyalists.
Many people, Yours Truly inclusive, may not be admirers of Zu-za, but there is one fact they cannot change. After two unsuccessful attempts, Zu-za had finally succeeded in making Agya Ofuntuo an 'omanpanin', a feat I believe Osono can never achieve.
I say so believing that Osono is too democratic to a fault. If not, how could it have allowed 17 'omanpanin' aspirants to go on a spending-spree in the name of democracy, which caused a lot of disdain for the party?
It is my wish to see Osono regain power, and pronto. However, the party has so many ambitious persons who are just unwilling to make any sacrifices for the good of the party.
With Zu-za demonstrating gross incompetence in governance, any objective person would agree that Osono's best chance of reclaiming the most coveted 'omanpanin' seat is for the party to unite behind Nana Addo; and Alan Kyerematen knows it. But would his ambition of becoming an 'omanpanin' allow him to make any sacrifices? Time would definitely tell.
Frankly speaking, Alan would surprise the whole world if he does not contest the upcoming Osono flagbearership slot. However, the elements of surprise and unity are exactly what his party needs to win the 2012 'kokromoti' exercise.
As Pa Grant said, “Don't play with our two weapons- the weapon of unity and the weapon surprise.” I therefore humbly call upon all members of the Osono family to heed Don Barima's call for unity and sacrifice because, “when the he-goat that does not heed good counsel finds the butcher's knife at his neck, his only cry is TRAGEDY.”