NPP Youth wants Dr. Bawumia to lead NPP into 2016

A group calling itself the Northern Youth for NPP (NYF-NPP) is demanding that Nana Akufo-Addo step down immediately as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the campaign for the 2016 general elections hits up.

naaThe group which claims to have already consulted some leading members of the party on the issue is of the view that some recent developments in the party has betrayed Nana Akufo-Addo as the true unifier and a leader. His current health condition and age as well as the overall interest of the party are some of the other considerations stand informing their stand.

Among others, the NYF-NPP is arguing that Dr. Bawumia has exhibited enough mental prowess and physical energy to indicate to Ghanaians that he has what it takes to lead the largest opposition party into the elections for victory.

“In 2013, we saw how Alhaji Bawumia single-handedly carried our petition through the Supreme Court. Up till now people still praise him for his superb performance at carrying us along. We must use him for the the big job itself,” the group argued further.

Below is the full statement by the Northern Youth for NPP to state why Nana Akufo-Addo must give way for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer:

NORTHERN YOUTH FOR NPP (NYF-NPP) CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE ELEVATION OF ALHAJI BAWUMIA AS FLAGBEARER OF THE NPP.

We the Northern Youth for NPP are a non-tribal and non-religious political group of young and old northerners in Ghana who believe in the ideas of the founders of the New Patriotic Party. We believe that we are all equal before God and that the New Patriotic Party is the best tradition that can free Ghana from hardship and incompetence.

We have loved and adored our flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo. But for very clear reasons which we shall state below we believe the time has come for him to graciously move to the background and allow Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to take us to the promise land.

Before we state our reasons, we wish to say what we have done already and what forced us to come out publicly this time.

In the past couple of months we have approached very senior members and elders of the party on this matter, both home and abroad. Luckily, two of them succeeded in fixing a meeting between us and Alhaji Bawumia. We made our views forcefully known to him. At that meeting he expressed his thanks for the confidence we have in him. And he promised to talk to some elders of the party.

Since then our membership grew very large and by the time we met him again he realised he had to say something because of our strength. But he asked for some more time.

Because of party Unity, we approached Hon. Dan Botwe and Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyeman. Hon. Dan Botwe did not wish to discuss the matter. But Hon. Agyemang was very clear that “this is not possible”. An elder who spoke on our behalf asked if he meant he did not agree or it is not possible because of flagbearer. He said both.

We have done a lot of work in the background and have consulted many seniors especially as our party is going through painful public disunity and violence. If there is any clear chance for us to shame those seeking our downfall it is now.

We know that many Kukrudites are not ready to discuss the matter of age. But if we refuse to face it, we may regret it in 2017. Fellow patriots must know that, we love Nana Addo as much as they do. But they also know that we must not put too much load on him. It is simply not safe and practicable to let him carry the work load. And we plead your indulgence.

Meanwhile, if you watch Alhaji Bawumia carefully at his speech about the economy last week, he showed energy. He was able to stand for a long period. At the same time his mind was still fresh at work on top of the issues even at the end as if he was just about to start. This is a very powerful sign we must not ignore in our own Alhaji Bawumia as we move towards 2016.

In 2013, we saw how Alhaji Bawumia single-handedly carried our petition through the Supreme Court. Up till now people still praise him for his superb performance at carrying us along. We must use him for the the big job itself.

Nana, we are also concerned that there are a lot of people around you who are rather there for their own pockets and are taking advantage of your frailties and age to loot our party coffers. Instead of them helping us with their monies they rather stress you with foreign trips to raise money. After it all they help you to spend it on very useless things that make them rather rich. We believe your son Alhaji Bawumia has the fiancial knowledge and wizard skills to control them for victory in 2016.

We also think that some of your close allies are in the pockets of this wicked NDC government. Our intelligence sources have revealed that one of the young ones who travelled to America recently was sponsored by a very senior government official from the Eastern Region. We think they are pushing you to fail. If you step down you will deny them their wicked intentions.

Another wicked propaganda of the NDC is that you hate northerners. But the most dangerous one is from our own members who are making the same claim. We feel that the party faces the danger of proving right the accusation by Baah Acheamfuor that you have a “palpable deslike, contempt and hatred for people of the northern part of the country”. They spreading rumours that it is this hatred which is making you refuse to step aside for Alhaji Bawumia because he is northern muslim.

Today when you look across the country even poor NDC footsoldiers laugh at our members because of the incidence that happened at Legon Mensah Sabbah hall. They always talk about your age and our disunity. Our moral is going down. We do not think that you deserve the accusations. But we think you can do something to boost our moral.

We will be grateful if you can respond to our call speedily.

Signed:

Mumin Kaara Tijani (Yendi)
0546211851

Ousman Zublim Gulkpe (Tamale)
+233 24 341 5664

Amina Shirimori (Bolga)

Dominic Shirimori (Accra)

Ibrahim Osei (Pru West)

Thomas Wuni Gbagma (Wa)

Sharifa Zubairu (Wenchi)
0245775568

Dennis Awuah (Accra)

Abdul Sulemana (Legon)

Nurudeen Musah Sans (Kumasi)”