Opinions of Tuesday, 31 August 2010

Columnist: Coffie, Emmanuel Dela

Agyeman-Rawlings will be our next president unless…….

Face it; Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings will be our next president unless…….


Can she be stopped? Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings will be the next President of
Ghana, unless she decided not to run. It's a fact; not only could it happen, but
it probably will happen. On January 7, 2013, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings will
be sworn in as the 4th President of the forth republic of Ghana, thanks to her
Machiavellian determination, political astuteness -- and to the inexcusable
complacency of those who assume that she is unelectable.
If she decides to run, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings will win the 2012
Presidential Election! Now that I've heard the collective moans and groans of
displeasure from some quarters, let me explain why this woman will lay the smack
down on any challenger she may face.

First impressions are lasting impressions, and regardless of what the "haters"
say, her several years of public service proved that she could indeed hang with
the boys. Nana Konadu is one woman who does not falter and yield to those that
would like to persuade her to do otherwise. She continues down the main stream,
as did her husband. Some people would say that it is a scary thought that she
could be elected president. However, with her background she probably would make
an excellent president. She does not appear to act out of her emotions. One
would say that her past has been predetermined, if by no one else, her husband.
And we shall have him as our first man in the Castle, instead of the first lady.
It is fairly obvious she has developed extreme sensitivity to the voters, either
by her own experience or with the help of her husband, Jerry Rawlings. If one
will look at the record and follow her past from day one of Jerry Rawlings's
presidency, she has matured into a very wise woman. One might say cool, calm,
and collected.

I have never heard one good reason from the "haters" as to why they say she is
unelectable. Those who choose to attack her bring up trivial matters and bunch
of other bullshit, but it's all pointless and asinine. The attacks worked to her
advantage in her vice-chairmanship bid, and it will definitely be to her
advantage if she runs for president.

Politics and scandals go hand in hand. They have been part of every
administration, and they always will be. Somewhere, somehow, someone is doing
something dirty or fucked up, and you're only fooling yourself if you think
otherwise. No one is squeaky clean. Even if someone comes across as such, you'd
better believe it would be just a matter of time before that wicked skeleton
hiding in his or her closet was unearthed. Remember, "Let he who is without sin
cast the first stone!" I'm not saying that she should go unpunished for any type
of wrongdoing, but the fact of the matter is she has never been convicted of any
crime, and the logical, informed and intelligent voter understands this. They
will judge her on her positions on certain issues and the outstanding work she
has done as a former first lady and women advocate, not a bunch of bullshit.

I want to say one more thing about the "haters". As a writer, I have met many,
many people who are part of the private and corporate sector. I've heard many of
them refer to Mrs Rawlings as, "an aggressive fellow who can't be trusted." Let
me tell you something. This type of hatred is very dangerous, and they need to
be careful. I'm pretty sure that none of them have ever had dinner, a prayer
session, or a heart to heart conversation with the former First Lady to assess
her character in this way. Again, the smart voter will take these things into
account in 2012, and the votes will sway in her favor.

Nana Konadu's track record on women's issues and children rights is solid, and
the public will go to the polls in droves to vote for her because they will be
convinced that she will fight to maintain the rights of the people. Articles in
the dailies, unauthorized biographies and summations by political dip-shits
cannot substantiate someone's heart. That can only come from knowing a person,
and many of the "haters" don't know Nana Konadu. Unless they baby-sat her
children, cooked or cleaned for her, or shared a Bible or bed with her, the
"haters" need to shut up because they haven't got a clue.

Another reason why she'll win the 2012 Presidential election is because she's
tougher than most people give her credit for. Back in 1992, she together with Dr
Obed Asamoah mooted the idea of the NDC when others were in favour of joing
forces with the CPP. She'll keep her male counter-parts in check because she's
tough, determined, focused and best of all, very astute. There are those who are
underestimating her, but her period through nineteen years of her husband’s
presidency, and also as women advocates. She is probably the most seasoned
politician currently on the stage in Ghana. Former President Jerry Rawlings
knows it all too well. She has a wonderful mentor. She is presidential material,
and presents herself as such. Currently she has no competition from within the
NDC or the NPP side.

Nana Konadu will win NDC contest any day because she has more political clout,
power, recognition, charisma and political savvy than the Lurch, I mean John
Mills, ever did. You can stack up all the usual, tired-ass NDC contenders going
into the Primary, and I guarantee you that Ghanaian voters will resoundingly
choose Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings when all is said and done. President Mills,
Vice President John Mahama, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah, and the others can step up if
they want to and challenge her for the party's nomination, but they will get
their political asses kicked because voters are tired of seeing their worn and
dreary mugs, and many, particularly women, are anticipating that history will be
made when casting a vote for Mrs Rawlings. Her support from the public will be
phenomenal. People in this nation seem to love the underdog, and they get tired
of the same people being in power — especially when those people promised they
would “remember you” when they got there, but quickly forgot, amid their
newfound life of luxury.

Mrs Rawlings stood firm and proud during her husband's 19 years rule. She stood
firm when many in the country chose to hate her and her family. The media, the
public, and the political world attempted to pull out her pubic hairs one by one
because she was bonded to a man who had been the subject of scrutiny and
tremendous suspicion from day one. I'll say this much for her, the woman's got
tits of steel. The media, her political rivals, and the public all had
opportunities to destroy her politically and personally, but Nana Konadu managed
to keep her head up and stay focused in the midst of the tremendous amount of
bullshit she faced.

None of you reading this, male or female, husband or wife, would have withstood
the pressure and scrutiny this woman faced during the Rawlings presidency. I'd
put money on it! In spite of having her troubles, political or otherwise, played
out on the world's stage, she was still able to stand up and proclaim,
indirectly, "I'm Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. I'm running for the vice chairmanship
of the NDC’’, and the critics and the "haters" were put to shame. Even if you
hate her, you've got to love her for shoving those steel tits right in her
detractors' faces. Many in Ghana, and abroad, still love, respect, and admire
her and Great Man Jerry, politically and personally, and that is why she will
become the first female President of the Ghana.

We Shall be back!

Emmanuel Dela Coffie
www.delacoffie.wordpress.com