NPP Patron Cautions Party Leadership Over Primaries

Executives of the opposition New Patriotic Party have been cautioned to refrain from all unhealthy acts with respect to the conduct of the party’s impending parliamentary primaries that could have the potential to undermine the unity of the party. The caution was contained in a press release issued and signed by Nii Bubui Kakai, a former Chairman and now a Patron of the party in the Krowor constituency of the Greater Accra Region. He particularly warned against the temptation of openly endorsing aspirants or working for them, urging the party leadership to “use the disciplinary mechanisms to deal with those who will go against the party directives.” “Let us all be guided by the serious problems we individually and collectively created for the party in the selection of parliamentary candidates for the 2008 elections, the cost of which has been our being in opposition, and do what is right and will be in the best interest of the party instead of seeking to satisfy individual parochial interest,” the release stressed. Nii Kakai further charged the party’s leadership to conduct the parliamentary primaries in a transparent manner and create fair platforms for all genuine and qualified party members who are interested in the contest. He again reminded the parliamentary hopefuls and their supporters of the need to conduct decent and healthy campaigns based on issues and eschew campaign of insults and personality attacks. “This is very important in view of the fact that we will need everybody to come on board to carry out effective campaign after the primaries, to ensure a resounding victory in the general elections. We cannot expect sincere support and cooperation from people we insult and malign during the primaries,” the release noted. The former NPP Chairman urged party members in the Krowor constituency to remain united at all times and work harder to annex the seat from the NDC in the 2012 election. “I wish to plead with all party members not to take entrenched positions as we seek to ensure reconciliation among all members. Let us forgive one another and forget what happened in the past, unite and focus on the battle ahead of us in 2012. We don’t have time to waste,” he pleaded. Nii Kakai also made a passionate appeal to past executives of the party to join hands with the current executives to support the agenda of delivering the constituency to the party in 2012. “We are poised to win back the Krowor seat from the NDC. Let us unite and marshal our collective forces to achieve that feat,” he stressed. In the view of the NPP Patron, the grounds are fertile for the party’s comeback to the corridors of power in 2012, because of what he explains to be the “glaring failures” of the Mills-led National Democratic Congress government. He, however, concedes that “without unity it will be very difficult to achieve the feat of defeating the NDC. The current unity we continue to enjoy after the selection of Nana Akufo-Addo as our Presidential Candidate is something we should all cherish and maintain as we go into the crucial 2012 elections.” PRESS RELEASE NII KAKAI WARNS NPP OVER PRIMARIES Nii Bubui Kakai, a former NPP Chairman of the Krowor constituency and now a Patron of the party, wishes to caution executives of the party to avoid all unhealthy acts of omission and commission with respect to the impending parliamentary primaries that have the potential to put the unity of the party in jeopardy. Let us all be guided by the serious problems we individually and collectively created for the party in the selection of parliamentary candidates for the 2008 elections, the cost of which has been our being in opposition, and do what is right and will be in the best interest of the party instead of seeking to satisfy individual parochial interest. While particularly cautioning party executives against the open endorsement of, as well as working for, some aspirants, I wish to encourage the party leadership to make good use of the disciplinary mechanisms to deal with those who will go against party directives. We also need to conduct the primaries in a transparent manner and create fair platforms for all genuine and qualified party members who wish to aspire to go to Parliament. It is also important to remind the various parliamentary hopefuls and their supporters of the need to conduct decent and healthy issue-based campaigns devoid of insults and personality attacks. This is very important in view of the fact that we will need everybody to come on board to carry out effective campaign after the primaries, to ensure a resounding victory in the general elections. We cannot expect sincere support and cooperation from people we insult and malign during the primaries. The grounds are fertile for us to win the 2012 general elections in view of the glaring failures of the Mills government, but without unity it will be very difficult to achieve the feat of defeating the NDC. The current unity we continue to enjoy after the selection of Nana Akufo-Addo as our 2012 Presidential Candidate is something we should all cherish and do everything to maintain as we go into the crucial 2012 general elections. Back at home in my constituency, I wish to plead with all party members not to take entrenched positions as we seek to ensure reconciliation among all members. Let us forgive one another and forget what happened in the past, unite and focus on the battle ahead of us in 2012. We don’t have time to waste. Let me also appeal to all past executives to join hands and support the current executives to deliver the constituency to the party in the 2012 elections. We are poised to win back the Krowor seat from the NDC. Let us all unite and marshal our collective forces to achieve that feat.