Eastern Region NPP supports Akufo-Addo on his statement

Koforidua, Feb. 15 GNA - The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region on Tuesday pledged its support to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential candidate of the party, on his 93all die b= e die" statement made recently in the region.

Nana Akufo-Addo told NPP supporters at a function at Koforidua to resist any attempt by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to intimidate them. He told them to resist any such attempt and be prepared to put their whole life in line for the victory of the party in 2012 because 93all die be die." Nana Akufo Addo statement had been criticized and condemned by many, especially the NDC, who said the statement amounted to inciting violence. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Koforidua, the Regional Communication Officer of the party, Mr Owusu Baafi, said there was no negativity about what Nana Akufo-Addo said and that he was only encouraging party supporters to be stronger and resist any attempt by the NDC to intimidate them in 2012.

Mr Baafi said Nana Akufo-Addo could not have said it better in the wake of barbaric violence perpetuated against supporters of the NPP in the region i= n recent times. He recalled the violent incident of Akwatia, Atiwa and Chereponi by-elections and accused the NDC for perpetuating that violence on NPP supporters. Mr Baafi also accused the police and the Attorney General for not doing anything about the incident where the National Women Organizer of the NDC, Ms Anita d' Souza, ran her vehicle through NPP supporters, which left man= y of them sustaining various degrees of injuries.

"It is important to say that while innocent lives were threatened by the= se incidents, the police personnel on duty merely sat on the fence and allowed that criminality to go on," he said.

Mr Baafi cautioned that if nothing was done about those sordid acts of criminality by the NDC, they would impress upon their supporters to seek self-defence anytime elections were held.

"As we nurse our wounds, we demand nothing but a thorough investigation from the police to bring the culprits to book." he said Mr Baafi made it clear that the party in the region would use every legitimate and legal means to protect both their valid votes and their supporters come 2012, especially in their strongholds. 15 Feb. 11

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