I Sincerely Regret Supporting Nana Konadu - Ras Mubarak

The National Democratic Congress’ parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North in the December polls, Ras Mubarak, has boldly expressed his disappointment in the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings.

He believes that, on hindsight, his support for Mrs Rawlings in the party's flagbearership race last year was misplaced.

Ras Mubarak, who criticized the President Mills for masterminding his defeat at the party’s Youth Executive elections in 2009, pitched camp with Mrs Rawlings during the hot flagbearership contest in July 2011, which the president won.

But now, Ras Mubarak says he is befuddled by the constant attack on President Mills by Mrs Rawlings.

He has since apologized to the president for his harsh criticisms in the past.

The Friday, June 15, 2012 edition of the Punch Newspaper reported that Mr Mubarak had chastised the former first couple for working against President Mills who was overwhelmingly elected at the Sunyani Congress.

But explaining the circumstances within which he made the comments, Mr Mubarak told Accra-based OK FM that his assertions were directed at Mrs Rawlings only and not the founder of the party.

He said there was an understanding that whoever emerged victorious at the congress would be supported by all the factions in the party and therefore the direction taken by Mrs Rawlings after the elections with the support of some members of FONKAR, is unfair to the party as a whole.

“All of us should rally behind the president,” he said adding “if Nana Konadu had won , we would have supported her.”

According to him, based on the rancour in the party “I sincerely regret supporting her candidature… I sincerely feel so sad about it.”

He however admonished the youth of the party to allow the senior members of the NDC to deal with their differences with Mr Rawlings and not worsen the situation by making unguided statemens. He said none of the young persons in the party has the locus standi to question the position of Mr Rawlings.

“If people understand Rawlings there would be no problem in the party,” explaining that as a military person, Mr. Rawlings was used to not being questioned by his subordinates and therefore if people on the same level are allowed to deal with his concerns, the party will be making a headway.

“I plead with young members of the party to be careful when responding to issues of the founder.”

But a member of FONKAR, Saint Osei, slammed Ras Mubarak for his position, saying Mr Mubarak never supported the candidature of Mrs Rawlings. He further denied that the former first lady was deliberately destroying the chances of the party, stating that she only wants the best for the party.

He maintained that all Mrs Rawlings wanted to do was to help solve what she believed is the leadership crisis facing the party under the leadership of President Mills.

Saint Osei gave the assurance that members of FONKAR will continue to insist on the right things to be done whether or not it makes some people happy in the party.