The 2012 Presidential candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Hassan Ayariga has accused the former presidential candidate; Dr. Edward Mahama of fanning disunity in the party.
According to Mr Ayariga, Dr Edward Mahama cannot become the party’s flagbearer in the 2016 elections with such an attitude.
Speaking to Citi News at the party’s Upper East Regional conference in Bolgatanga, Hassan Ayariga said; “In Accra when I was campaigning for unity in the party, Dr. Edward Mahama approached me, congratulated me for preaching unity and told me (Ayariga) that he (Mahama) takes responsibility for the disunity in the party, because in 2008 because he refused to vote to decide whether to support the NDC or NPP at a National Executive Committee of the PNC where the two parties had 19 votes each.”
“This caused the division in the party till date where half of the PNC members support the NDC and half support the NPP. After the congress in 2012 I (Ayariga) went to Dr. Mahama’s house six times to appeal to him to support my campaign in 2012 but Mahama refused and now he is telling people that members of PNC are begging him to contest the flagbearership. Are we serious in the party or we lack human resource,” he stated.
Hassan Ayariga said; “16 years under the leadership of Mahama, the PNC has had its presidential votes dwindling,” adding the trend was reversed during his leadership in 2012.
“I’m not worried about Mahama contesting me but am worried that he is coming to destroy the party, there is no presidential candidate in this country who has set a bad precedence like Dr. Mahama. All those who went for their third time won except Mahama even the fourth time he couldn’t raise the fortune of the party and still want to be the presidential candidate, are we serious?” Ayariga stated.
Mr. Ayariga hinted that he has been running the party with his own financial resources, supporting the organization of all regional delegates conferences, bought 30 motor bikes for regional executives across the nation to run the activities of the party.
He was optimistic of being retained as presidential candidate of the party by 88% at this year’s national delegates conference in Wa and urged delegates to vote based on track records.
But Edward Mahama who accused Ayariga of soliciting finances from political parties to campaign, reiterated his commitment to alleviating poverty and the current energy crisis.
He appealed to delegates to give him the nod by voting for him to lead the party come 29th November in Wa.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana