Atubiga submits ‘strong’ proposal on his choice of who partners Mahama in 2020

Former Presidential aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who pulled out last minute to support candidate John Mahama, Stephen Atubiga has submitted a proposal on who to select as Mahama’s 2020 running mate.

In a long article copied to MyNewsGh.com, he makes an argument for Mahama to select someone who has appeal across all the regions and is loved by the party.

Read the full article

I, Stephen Atubiga sincerely agrees with you all and support the NDC constitutional rights given to any elected presidential candidate to choose his/her running mate especially Someone he/she is comfortable working with in the interest of the nation and the party.
I stand by my believe that a running mate (Veep) and a Chief of Staff must always be incredibly intelligent than the president, in so many ways so as to be able to deal with the president’s unforeseeable weaknesses. They should be able to enforce team playing spirit, crack the whip for the president, keep appointees on their toes, dialogue with stakeholders and the party/members’ interest etc cetera. A good example of one best chief of staff was Julius Debra under JDM , ( a good Veep material )

Every leader has strengths and weaknesses both in their social and political lives that could impact leadership style and/or style of governance. Selection of a running mate could be seasonal and dependant on the economic atmosphere at the time.

Former president Rawlings chose the late Kwao Nkensen Arkaah and late president Mills at different times and seasons to balance his civilian tolerance, weaknesses and democratic deliverance and he got victory twice.

Former president Kufuor, an intellect and a Christian needed a Northerner and a Muslim (late Alhaji Aliu Mahama, a none Npp Card bearer then) to balance his equation of weaknesses and it paid off well as he won elections twice.

President Nana Addo, experienced politician, political activist, 2 term opposition leader strategically chose Mahamudu Bawumia as his running mate, (with little NDC flavor around him) a northerner and an economist to balance his weaknesses in economic Governance . He opted for someone who could hunt for loopholes as well as punch holes in the then NDC government. Bawumia was the right candidate for veep for president Nana Addo to dismantle and discredit all the hard work of the NDC under Attac Mills/JDM leadership in order to spin the good economic atmosphere upsidedown for Npp’s victory 2016 and that paid off.

Former president Mills with undiluted intellectual capacity chose JDM (a northerner) to balance his equation and weaknesses .JDM enrichment in charisma , gone through all the political drill, young, vibrant , decent, fineboy, tolerant and a good team player was the right and best running mate for Mills at the time and this choice gave NDC victory.

Former president JDM and president in waiting (2020), with credit as a visionary figure, a good team player, the only president who has gone through all the political mill, vogue conscious, fashionable, very neat, good looking, tolerant, innovative, peoples’ person, intelligent and very principled in his own believe, chose the late Veep kwesi Amissah Arthur (intellectual) as his mate for loyalty reasons to his late boss Mills among other reasons. Amissah Arthur was a technocrat not a politician. Very good in managing economy and economic crisis, very principled, intelligent and too honest to be a politician. This equation gave JDM victory and a defeat for his second bid (with common reasons).

We should not also forget that special security advisor to the president, national security coordinators and the BNI directors’ actions and inactions can give or guarantee a second term to every president. Trust me on this one.

JDM President in waiting 2020 lost to the Npp due to combined forces of deep internal NDC party issues as well as external issues such as Bawumia’s lies. Today’s season is different for JDM dependant on party reconciliation for unity ahead of JDM’s victory come 2020 without leaving out the hardships and bad economy under President Nana addo’s government and the fact that Ghanaians are crying for JDM’s comeback.

My little advice is for JDM (president in waiting 2020) to categorically spread and broaden his selection of running mate .especially with dean the inner circle of the party for strategic reasons. (1) former presidential aspirants selecting two Veep candidates among themselves to JDM for consideration. (2) All 15 Regional party chairmen together choosing two candidates among themselves / outsider to JDM for Veep consideration. Minority in parliament together choosing two candidates among themselves for Veep candidate.

Also READ: Rushing Akufo-Addo has failed Ghana already- Deputy NDC Women Organiser
This will let all feeling inclusive even if his choice of Veep material is outside their category for now. Unity, unifying , togetherness.
JDM in consultation with party structures and stakeholders can make a running make choice from the above list. In addition to choices based on his own discretion outside the above listed categories. After his independent decision of a Veep candidate, the interest of the party would be served for victory come 2020. JDM’s victory is how NDC party can be united. The atmosphere and Ghanaians are ready for him.

Love you all.

SIGNED:
Stephen Atubiga