Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyremanteng must discard any intention of leading the party in 2012 because he does not have what it takes to lead the party to victory, according to former National Chairman, Mr. Harona Esseku.

The controversial former chairman holds the view that the former Trade Minister will be better off contesting the party’s presidential slot in 2020 and so he must forget about 2012. In what may be seen as campaigning for the 2008 presidential candidate, Mr. Harona Esseku said Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the most popular politician in the country at the moment and that the party’s delegates must vote for him, when they go to congress in the early part of next year. The former NPP chairman was speaking to Citi FM on Wednesday.

This is not the first time a leading member of the party has thrown his weight behind the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. It will be recalled that during the party’s thanksgiving tour in the early part of this year, party stalwarts like former finance minister, Hon. Yaw Osafo Maafo, second deputy speaker, Professor Mike Ocquaye and former ambassador to Serbia, Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Mrs. Mary Adu Boahene on various platforms called on the Party delegates to endorse Nana Addo when they go to congress because he has already been marketed to the electorate.

Their main argument was that the renowned and respected lawyer is still popular amongst Ghanaians and that he is must be given a second chance to lead the party. Indeed that assertion was solidified when Nana Addo was given a rousing and rapturous welcome when he returned from his European tour early this year.

There are fears that the current position of Mr. Harona Esseku might ignite factionalism within the party, which senior party members are trying very hard to eliminate. Efforts to reach Mr. Alan Kyeremanteng for his reaction proved futile as he was unavailable for comments.