By William
Yaw Owusu
Wednesday
January 03, 2018
The 36th anniversary of the 31st
December, 1981 ‘revolution,’ led by then Flt Lt Jeremiah John Rawlings, was celebrated
peacefully at Ho in the Volta Region last Sunday, but not without the usual controversies
associated the annual event.
The former president, who is also the founder of the
opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), used the occasion to chastise
his colleague former President John Dramani Mahama for coming to the event late;
and even noted that Mr Mahama, who took the party to opposition in 2016, had
not learnt any lessons.
“He has not learnt the lesson of how not to be late
for functions. Each time they keep me waiting just because of him. Ladies and
gentlemen, don’t worry he will learn it,” Rawlings (fondly called Papa J) remarked
at the event which was under the theme, "Uniting Around the Principles of
Probity, Accountability and Social Justice."
Mahama’s
Defence
But the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the
anniversary jumped into the defence of Mr. Mahama saying that he was there on
time, insisting, “From the outset former President Mahama was not late to the
Revolution Day Event.
“It should be noted that what transpired leading to
the remarks of the founder of the NDC and former President, Jerry John Rawlings,
was an apparent communication lapse. Former President Mahama’s Office was
informed to arrive at 10:00 am. It should be noted that former President Mahama
duly complied and in fact, arrived earlier at 9:50 am.”
The statement, which had been signed by Emmanuel
Kwasi Bedzrah (MP) Chairman of the LOC, added, “It must be well acknowledged
that former President Rawlings, after having been informed of these facts, in a
statesmanly manner, publicly corrected the impression he had created earlier
and apologised to President Mahama.”
Latter-Day
Saints
In his main address, Mr. Rawlings ripped into those
he called ‘latter-day saints’ in the NDC whom he accused of hijacking the party
and disrespecting everyone, including himself.
“Some latter-day party officials have now made it
their chore to denigrate me for speaking loudly and forcefully about the wrongs
in the NDC when the party was in power,” he said, adding, “Many of these
political novices, eager to please their paymasters, may be oblivious to the
countless times my counsel was treated with contempt.”
Mr JJ Rawlings said there is no way he could spend
his energy criticizing the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government when
his own NDC is in a mess and needed deliverance.
“I cannot lay claim to the position of party founder
and spend time criticizing another party or institution when my house is
burning. Removing the log in my eye is the only way to legitimize any right to
expose the speck in another’s.” he said emphatically.
In spite of the former president’s posture towards
the NPP, he urged the Akufo-Addo administration not to gloss over issues like
political vigilantism associated with the ruling party, the ‘cash for dinner
seats’ with the president and the recent reported inflated budgetary allocation
by a ministry.
Revolutionary
Change
The leader of the ‘revolution’ posited that the NDC
needs “men and women at its various executive positions who have the strength
of character to boldly lead the party and ensure that they have the ability to
rein in members of their own government when in power.
“Our party structure was weak, abused and ignored in
the immediate past and when change comes, that change must be one that carries
with it the power and will of the people,” he said, adding, “If we do not allow
that revolutionary change but allow materialism and money politics to dictate
our choices, then we will stay in the political abyss for a considerable
period.”
NDC’s
Defeat
He reiterated his point that the NDC’s humiliating defeat
at the 2016 general election was ‘self-inflicted,’ insisting that “the ideals
of probity, accountability, integrity and social justice did not manifest themselves
in our policies and conduct at all times.
“Some of our own comrades chose to be impervious to
reality and we experienced a crushing defeat that haunts many till today.”
Youth
& Money
“The grassroots of our party has been paralysed by
the complete dearth of principles to drive the party. Our youth are being
motivated by monetary influence rather than principles. Many have no clue about
the ideals of the party and only see political association as an economic
association, further emboldening the so-called kingmakers.”
Mr. Rawlings noted that currently, the political
landscape has been monetized and that is killing the enthusiasm towards
patriotism and service to the country.
“Today, many perceive politics as being synonymous
with acquiring wealth at a fraudulently rapid pace and have nothing to do with
service to country. Politics to some, is no longer about the right of every
individual to have a say in national decision-making through the district assemblies
and other grassroots political structures that were created to enhance equity
and create a national wealth of ideas and sense of belonging.
“Today, our politics is one of patronage and
dependence on cash cows. Some people have used the leadership opportunities
offered them to acquire ill-gotten wealth, which they now use to manipulate
us,” he said.
Dela
Coffie
In a related development, an NDC activist, Dela
Coffie, has attacked former President Mahama and his group for attending the
event in Ho after he had claimed that the former leader used it to advance his
political career.
He posted on Facebook,
“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that the former leader of
the NDC - John Mahama and his cronies - would ever participate in June 4, 1979
and December 31, 1981 commemorative events, post 2009. Not only am I stunned by
John Mahama's presence at the December 31 commemorative event in Ho today, I
lament the hypocrisy associated with his brand of politics.
“I remember vividly Mahama's scathing attack on the
commemoration of these two events in 2010. It was convenient for Mahama and
cronies whiles in government to dishonour December 31 commemoration, forgetting
that the NDC is a direct descendant of June 4 and 31st December.”
Mr Dela Coffie recalled, “Mahama as vice president
and later as president, publicly encouraged appointees and trusted media
contacts to run down the ideals of June 4th and 31st December revolution.”
No comments:
Post a Comment