Opinions of Friday, 11 December 2015
Columnist: Bokor, Michael J. K.
By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Folks, in writing to bait the NPP gang assisting Akufo-Addo to get rid of dissenting voices in their political cabal, I knew that they would dig in and axe Kwabena Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe. What they had set in motion couldn't be reversed. So, it has happened that Agyepong and Crabbe have been put in the freezer. (See http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2015/December-10th/npp-suspends-kwabena-agyepong-crabbe-indefinitely.php)
Others emerging as critical and condemnatory of Akufo-Addo will be lined up for similar punitive measures. I have in mind Joshua Attoh Quarshie whose utterances are even worse than what has landed Afoko, Agyepong, and Crabbe in the political Siberia.
But this Pyrrhic victory being won by Akufo-Addo will not oil his political wheel for victory at Election 2016. Instead, it will erode his support base within and outside the NPP cabal.
By suspending Agyepong particularly, the NPP masterminds might be using this action to set up a smokescreen---a facade---to attempt eroding the negative impression of their cabal as Akan-based. It won't wash with anybody. It still remains what it has been in the sight of the people---and has now become worse, especially now that the tyranny against dissenting voices has reached a crescendo of abhorrence!!
After seeing the video clip on that Hajia Fati's pouring of "libation" or sweeping away of Agyepong as well as the popping of "champagne" by NPP supporters, I laughed out really loud. How narrow-minded can't these people be?
Party officials duly elected at the NPP's national delegates conference to administer the affairs of the party have been framed up and driven out like stray cattle, an action that reasonable party followers would view more seriously than these buffs are doing. What are they celebrating? That those elected to perform legitimate duties for the NPP have been nipped by a handful of so-called party leaders supporting Akufo-Addo? Or that the votes of the delegates who chose Afoko, Agyepong, and Crabbe have been undermined? Wherein, then, lies the essence and value of the people's voice in a democracy of the sort that the NPP claims to be practising internally?
If they consider Afoko, Agyepong, and Crabbe or any other person expressing dismay at happenings in the party under Akufo-Addo as the problems to be tackled to pave the way for Akufo-Addo to win the Presidential elections, they are deceived.
As we have persisted in saying, the problems militating against Akufo-Addo emanate from him, not from outside. Nothing done or not done by anybody should be misconstrued as the cause of his political woes. Only he can redeem himself.
It must be clear at this stage that Akufo-Addo has muddied his own party's waters and should be prepared for whatever fate awaits him even before Election 2016 is held. And that fate will be a sad and sorry one!!
Now, Afoko, Agyepong, and Crabbe will go all out to do whatever they can to serve purposes that will hurt Akufo-Addo. And they will be joined by those in the party supporting them. There are countless others who know how to do things and will lend support to them.
Folks, Akufo-Addo has succeeded in adding more problems to what he isn't even able to carry as of now. He will sag under the weight. It is just a matter of time for him to wobble and hobble. This time, he will visit Mecca and the Vatican for God's intervention, but it won't happen. The battle that he thinks is being fought for him by God has already ended in his disfavour. He is really confirming poor opinions about him as a divider and not a unifier, a vindictive person, and not a leader to help put in power to rule Ghana. An intolerant braggart!!
Here is the barrier that he has set in front of himself: alienating those who would genuinely have worked for him; turning those perceived as members of the Kufuor faction against him in a more pointedly abrasive manner; destabilizing the NPP's front and making it increasingly difficult for the party to remain united. At least, under circumstances surrounding Elections 2008 and 2012, the NPP was united, even though he lost. How about now that he has torn it apart this way?
Clearly, the road for Akufo-Addo will be really rough and tough. I wonder what he stands to gain from this high-handedness against critical voices in the party. This imposition of the culture of silence will hurt him more than win favour and goodwill for him. H e will definitely regret winning and gloating over this Pyrrhic victory against the party's own national officers. I foresee more rumpus and will continue to monitor happenings at the NPP front.
I shall return…
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