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Politics of Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Source: peacefmonline.com

Mahama is the 'weakest link' in NDC - Bagbin claims

Alban Bagbin and Mahama Alban Bagbin and Mahama

Presidential Aspirant of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alban Bagbin says the media's obsession with former President John Dramani's popularity in the party is not a true reflection of the views of party members.

According to the current 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament, some NDC members including himself, strongly consider the former as the "weakest link" in the party.

Speaking to the issue of the former President Mahama’s obvious advantage over the rest of the other Presidential aspirants, the long-serving lawmaker for the people of Nadowli/Kaleo Constituency believes Mr Mahama's experience at the highest office of the land rather puts him at a disadvantage despite having served as a former President.

“Mahama had the disadvantage because he has served as President before; and what was his performance? And so the delegates have the opportunity to assess that and look at his call for comeback and to assess him to see whether his call for comeback has in anyway changed because we had a committee report as to what happened in government and what led to the humiliation of the party, and they are using that to assess him whether his call that he has changed and he will do things different is just a mere call or is true”.

He stressed that “so we have the opportunity because some of us even think that he [Mahama] is the weakest link and so apart from you the media who are obsessed with him, the members are not”.

Asked about what his chances are in the race for who leads the NDC in 2020, Mr Bagbin replied; “from 1992 I have been committed to this process without a blink of an eye. I have remained put and by the grace of Almighty God, I have been ascending from Member of Parliament to now 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament after serving twice as the leader of Parliament as Majority Leader and Minority Leader for 8 years. I have worked with all the Presidents in those positions and so in terms of loyalty, commitment and experience, I think I tower above them all."