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Opinions of Tuesday, 9 August 2016

Columnist: Badu, K

Sister, I bet, madam Theresa won't have given Mahama another chance

President John Mahama President John Mahama

In fact, my sister could not be serious for suggesting that to err is human and therefore the non-performing President Mahama and his NDC government must be given a third term in office.

During the heated political debate between my elder sister and yours truly, my sister, who happens to be a die-hard supporter of President Mahama and his NDC government opined that even though President Mahama and his NDC government have failed to rescue the ever sinking economy, President Mahama has delivered some infrastructural projects and thus deserves another chance in office.

Upon my elder sister’s impetuous, albeit inane argument, I put it to her: ‘what were you then expecting President Mahama to do for you when you voted him to power?

My sister, however, retorted that she gave her mandate to President Mahama in anticipation that her life would be transformed through President Mahama’s pragmatic policies.

I put it to my sister once again: well, has your life been transformed by President Mahama and his NDC government’s much touted slogans -‘better Ghana agenda’ and ‘we are transforming lives?’

My sister paused for a few seconds and then morosely responded by saying that unfortunately her life and that of her associates have not transformed as expected despite the so-called infrastructural projects.

Really, sister? I quizzed her in amazement. I posed: so where is your incentive for wanting to give President Mahama and his NDC government a third term in office?

My sister sighed deeply, cleared her throat and then replied that, although her life has not been transformed meaningfully during President Mahama and his NDC government time in office, she has been voting for NDC Party all the time and does not want to depart from such loyalty.

Ironically, it was my turn to sigh heavily upon hearing my sister’s empty response to my question. I then quizzed my sister: did I hear you right?

My sister: what do you mean? I retorted: I mean did you mention loyalty? My sister: yes I did.

Well, sister, since that loyalty could not transform your life, why then hold on to such a vacuous belief? I enquired.

My sister: well, I have been taught by my Pastor to be faithful at all times regardless.

No, sister, debunk such transcendental teachings by the so-called ‘Men of God’, I retorted.

I enquired: tell me, does your Pastor even offer you a meagre portion of the gargantuan church offerings? No. She responded.

I continued: let me tell you then sister, even the kind-hearted Blessed Theresa of Calcutta would not have kept such unbridled loyalty.

My sister: But aren’t all politicians the same? So why should I change from one to another?

No. You are wrong sister, politicians have different levels of competence, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, so they are never the same, I retorted.

I proceeded: sister, it would be unfair for you to compare for instance, the achievements of Dr Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah to the achievements of President Rawlings.

For if nothing at all, Dr Nkrumah built hundreds of factories, only for President Rawlings to off load all to individuals through his preposterous Economic Recovery Programme.

Similarly, it would be boundlessly infelicitous to compare President Kuffour’s achievements in terms of social interventions to that of President Mahama and his NDC government.

For if nothing at all, President Kuffour and his NPP government introduced the free Maternal Care, the School Feeding Programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Mass Transport System, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the National Youth Employment Programme, now known as GYEDA, and many other social interventions.

Sister, would you then be earnest enough and name just a single social intervention that has been implemented by your so-called social democratic party? I asked.

Sister: Well, “I can’t think far”. No. I don’t remember NDC government ever implementing any social intervention.

You see, sister, your so-called loyalty is baseless, so, I will beseech you to engage in serious introspection and change your ways, I propounded.

Sister: You are really making sense more than my Pastor who has been urging me to remain loyal at all times.

I will definitely ruminate over your poignant message and then make a sensible move during the 7th December general election. Many thanks for your incisive counselling my brother.

It is my pleasure sister. For it is my wish that you depart from your unbridled loyalty, I added.

Sister: Well, it is my fervent hope that I disregard such loyalty for it cannot transform my life anyway.

As a matter of fact, I walked out of the debate with my head held high, for I somehow managed to persuade my inflexible sister who has hitherto been clinging on to a seemingly hopeless loyalty.