General News of Monday, 7 October 2013

Source: The Catalyst

Wicked plot against Bawumia exposed

After failing to redeem the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from opposition with the election petition case, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate of the main opposition party is now facing one of the greatest fights of his life.

The embattled statistician, according to close sources, is in a serious fight with the General Secretary of the party, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, also known as Sir John, who has vowed to stampede any attempts at imposing him (Bawumia) on the party in whatever way-flagbearer or running mate.

The sources say the convicted contemnor has begun a victimization plot against Bawumia in retaliation over rumors that the latter was working against his re-election as Secretary-General in the next elections.

Those who worked closely with Bawumia during the last elections have also been hauled onto the victimization target list, triggering internal wrangling among party functionaries. Our close sources have it that one of Bawumia’s faithful has also returned fire by telling Sir John’s Aide not to come to the head office again.

The internal rift is sharply polarizing the party ahead of internal elections to select leaders to steer affairs ahead of election 2016.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bawumia has been sacked from his office by no other than aspiring General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, in what has become one of the latest tactics to sink his presidential ambition.

The ash painted storey building, near the Nima Divisional Police Command in Accra, belongs to the former Spokesperson for ex-President John Kufuor, and Dr. Bawumia was using the premises to promote Nana Addo’s ticket.

With Nana Akufo-Addo’s fate hanging in the balance, some party supporters see him as the best candidate to lead the party into election 2016 and this is repugnant to those who detest the ‘Northerner ticket’.

That section of the party is only ready to tolerate a vice presidential candidate of Northern descent as far as that can help win northern votes; anything more than it is unacceptable.

Bawumia is keeping his cool head under these provocative acts from respectable party leaders, with the hope that he would win the sympathy of moderate supporters.

He is relying on his show of intelligence during the election petition to make a case for himself but the radical NPP sympathizers would have none of that.

Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to announce his candidature soon after asking for some time to rest and take stock of his life. The announcement would begin a campaign of personality attacks that would be in the form of insults and mudslinging in the media.