Rawlings’ imposition would be resisted- Prince Hamidu

'Rawlings' declarations in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has never created any impact for the NDC, except only disasters and so any attempt by the founder to declare a Presidential candidate will be fiercely resisted.' says a member of the campaign team of the incumbent chairman of the party, Dr. Yao Obed Asamoah.

The member, Prince Adam Hamidu expressed regret that the role of the founder and the chairman of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Flt. Lt. J. J Rawlings, was to play an advisory role and not to create any factionalism in the party, which according to him, was not helping the course of the NDC, as a political party.

Prince Hamidu, who described himself as a cadre and a former coordinator of the defunct Civil Defense Organisation (CDO) explained that the Rawlings' declarations were disasters, because the Swedru declaration made by the former President in support of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills never worked for them as a party.

He continued that the same pattern followed in 2004, when the former president threw his weight behind Prof Mills who again lost to President Kufuor.

“ In the Central region, where Prof Mills comes from the NDC got only two seats out of the 19, which we never experienced since the inception of the party,”

He further went on to point out that in their last congress in Takoradi, the former President imposed one Akrasi Sarpong on the NDC as national organiser, but that also failed them in an election, whiles Quaynor Mettle, also imposed on the party by the founder, as a propaganda secretary could not make any impact for the NDC.

He thus described the impositions of Jerry Rawlings as disaster that must stop now.

“ Another big blow that the former president created for the NDC was the introduction of Dr Josiah Aryeh, whom he brought in to contest for the position of General Secretary at La and at the end of the day Dr Aryeh brought a disgrace to the NDC,” he said.

He said they in the Obed camp are asking Jerry Rawlings to desist from making any declarations and consider himself as a father and an advisor to enable delegates from all the 230 constituencies to make their own choice.

Prince Hamidu said there is nothing between former President Rawlings and Dr Obed Yao Asamoah but the issue of Prof Mills was the main factor because Obed has never seen Mills as a winnable candidate.

The Obed campaigner mentioned Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama and John Mahama as some of the materials in NDC that can make a greater impact than Atta Mills as Presidential candidate.

Prince Hamidu disclosed that Dr Spio Gabrah was prepared to sponsor any Presidential candidate, except Prof Mills.

On the candidature of John Mahama, the former cadre indicated that the tradition demands in the North, Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama would be considered because of seniority, but however maintained that John Mahama was a good material.

In an earlier discussion with Prof Mills in Sunyani, the former vice president said he would beat any presidential aspirant in the NDC come the congress day.

“ I am more marketable than any aspirant in the party. Whoever said he doesn't want me as a candidate should wait for the congress day,” he said.

According to Professor Mills he stands the chance of winning the general elections in the country, come 2008, following the hardship the people of this country are going through.