Former President John Dramani Mahama has sounded a word of caution to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) advising them to desist from attacking members of the opposition National Democratic (NDC) else they’d be forced to show their true colours.
According to him, they will match the NPP boot for boot in the 2020 general elections if the NPP continues to intimidate NDC members with hoodlums and vigilante groups.
“We are not going to joke in 2020 and I’m sounding a warning to the NPP – we are going to match them boot for boot,” he said in reaction to the alleged attack on NDC members during the by-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency on Thursday.
John Mahama gave the warning from the Adaklu Constituency where he met with NDC supporters and delegates as part of his campaign tour of the Volta Region.
The NDC pulled out of the election earlier on Thursday following pockets of violence recorded in parts of the constituency during the by-election.
NDC withdrew from the poll few hours after voting began on Thursday, with the claim that some of their agents and members were being assaulted by some persons believed to by sympathizers of the governing NPP.
Some National Security Operatives allegedly fired gunshots at a polling centre at La Bawaleshie, injuring about six persons believed to be NDC supporters.
The leadership of the party subsequently ordered its polling agents and observers to leave the polling centres.
“In the circumstances, I have conferred with the parliamentary candidate and the leadership of the NDC. We have no option than to withdraw from the ongoing exercise,” the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, added.
While speaking to the NDC supporters, Mr. Mahama said the fact that they have been docile in the wake of unprovoked attacks by NPP vigilante groups does not mean they are powerless.
He said they have adopted such nature because they respect the constitution and the rule of law.
“We respect the constitution of this country and the NDC is a democratic party and that’s why we abide by the rules of the constitution. But the same constitution says that Ghanaians should resist anybody who attempts to subvert the constitution. When you go rampaging with forces and intimidating people when they should come out and vote you are subverting the constitution. And we have a right to resist you.”
“I want to sound a caution that NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to unleashing violence no one can beat us to that. It is just that we midwife this country’s democracy and that is why we must be the first to respect it. That is why we are acting as a party that is docile and respecting the rule of law. But if we believe that the government cannot protect our people and we believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we may have to advise ourselves,” he added.
Source: citinewsroom.com
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Coward, what can you do?
CEASE FIRE ALL. DISCERNING AND FLOATING VOTERS ARE WATCHING, THEY DECIDE AND SWING VOTES IN FAVOUR OF 'PARTY A OR PARTY B' COME 2020
YOU CAN'T DO FOKO, BRING THE AZORKA BOYS AGAIN IN 2020 AND WILL B..EHEAD THEM ON BY ONE TRUST ME. WE ARE FOLLOWING YOU PEOPLE CLOSELY AND COME 2020 THE ACTUAL THEN WILL HAPPEN BELIEVE WE NPP.
JOHN MAHAMA, YOU TRULY INCOMPETENT! A PAST MP, VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT NOW PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TALKING LIKE THIS? HOW CAN YOU TOMORROW HAVE THE MORAL RIGHT TO ADVISE OR DEMAND FROM THE SECURITY AGENCIES TO DO THEIR INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS MATTER? THREATENING AND TALKING THIS WAY IS FOR FOOT SOLDIERS NOT YOU. WHERE ARE YOUR CHILDREN NOW AND CHILDREN OF YOUR FORMER APPOINTEES? USA, BRITAIN, CANADA, FRANCE, DUBAI, ETC? YOU CAN HAVE THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMAN STRUGGLING HERE TO SUPPORT HIM AND THAT BOY SAMMY GYAMFI. THE BEST APPROACH ON THESE ISSUES AS A PERSON IN YOUR CALIBER IS TO RESORT TO THE LAW NOT THREATENING. WE ARE LIVING IN A SOPHISTICATED WORLD THAT YOU DON'T NEED THE OLD REVOLUTIONARY WAY TO UNLEASH VIOLENCE. SO THINK TWICE AND LET THOSE OF US WHO WANT GHANA TO SUCCEED WHETHER NDC OR NPP TO THINK BETTER.
Sir,you need not show us your true colours,we already know that you people are trouble makers.We stomach all your troubles when you were in power using the military, the police and all others to bully us.This time round we are ready for you and are going to crush you if you try anything silly. Do you remember what Woryongo said,'VIOLENT BEGET VIOLENT'Don't ever try it.MON DISI A YE BE KWA.
HAAAAAAAAAAA MR INCOMPETENT-ONE EVEN IN OPPOSITION STILL DISPLAYING INCOMPETENCY, YOU THINK NPP MEN ARE JOKING BRING IT UP AND YOU WILL SEE YOUR SMOOTH LESS LEVEL 2020 WE KNOW YOU GUYS VERY WELL THE TIME THAT YOU WERE COMMANDER IN CHIEF YOU COULDN'T DO FOKO AND NOW YOUR IN OPPOSITION YOUR BRAGGING BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE WE ARE FULLY READY FOR YOU GUYS, AND YOU SAMMY GYAMFI ALL WHAT EVER YOU CALLED YOURSELF YOUR JUST SMALL BOY WE ALREADY KNOW ALL YOUR MOVEMENT AND WHERE YOU STAY , BE MINDFUL OF YOUR TALKING BECAUSE THE THEY WE COME FOR YOU NOBODY CAN RESCUE YOU FROM US AND YOU WILL SMELL BITER THINGS DONT SAY WE DIDNT WARNED YOU ANYTIME YOU ON RADIO YOU THINK PRESIDENT NANA ADDO IS YOUR CLASS MATE , YOUR NOT FAR FROM FETCH.
EWEE( TH- IE- F) LISTEN TO THIS MAN. HE HAS BOUGHT HIS HOUSE IN DUBAI. IF THERE IS TROUBLE IN GHANA HE WILL RUN AWAY AND HID.
NDC needs to be seriously commended for restraining themselves. There would have been a show down which would not augur well for this country. This thing has been building up for so long and well meaning Ghanaians (Clergy, CSO's etc) have been treating it with kith gloves. WE'VE GOT TO WATCH OUT
DON'T JUST MIND THEM BUT WE ARE NOW VERY , VERY PREPARED AND READY FOR THEM ANYTIME ANYWHERE. NOTHING UNDER THIS SUN CAN SCARE US INTO SUBMISSION. THE TIME IS SURELY COMING.
***barred word***!! Even when you had the military and all the security apparatus behind you, you were still intimidated. You think the era of the eigthies is today? What you saw yesterday is just a tip of the iceberg. You will see worse unless you conform yourselves to the laws of the land and stop the idea of snatching of ballot boxes, and intimidating people from voting.