The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, has cautioned the rank and file of the party to be wary of their utterances, bury their differences, and unite for the 2016 general elections.
Analyzing the defeat of the party in two consecutive times, he expressed the view that internal party elections usually gave ammunitions to the political opponents to use against the NPP during general elections saying, �We are our own enemies.�
The party�s national chairman recalled in a statement that �the false accusations against Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 polls were started by some party members, which were later employed by political opponents for the electioneering campaign.�
The internal wrangling in the party, according to Jake, equally affected parliamentary candidates in 2008 and 2012 during the party�s primaries, which he noted, led to their defeat in the general elections.
He stated, �Faced with this situation, I believe we have only one option on the way forward. We must, in the words of the song, �Work like a man inspired until the battle is won;� remember the famous man who had to fall to rise again; so pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and star all over again�.
Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey admonished, �Extol the virtues of your candidate. Too often, we find it more expedient to destroy the reputation of our NPP competitor. Please remember that you never bring down one person; you wound, that person and all his or her supporters too.�
On the calls for reforms, the national chairman failed to state his stance, but cautioned the timing might be conducive enough for such exercise adding, �It is almost impossible in such times as we are in now for any suggestion to be considered rationally.�
He said, �If we are to be stronger then we must allow people to put forward ideas and we debate them. If they are found workable, we adopt them and make them work for us. This is the time to create and not destroy.�
According to him, �that negative description of the NPP by political opponents as warmongers and bomb throwers have become a thing of the past as a result of the gracious acceptance of the Supreme Court verdict by Nana Akufo-Addo.�
The national chairman urged party members, especially communicators and spokespersons, to defend the party against these lies, and never to allow them to resurrect and be used against the NPP.
He said,� Ghana and Ghanaians need us. Our people would like a return to the positive climate the country enjoyed during the time of the NPP government led by President J A Kufuor.�
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