My threats were a ‘mere joke’ – Bugri Naabu

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Northern Regional Chairman has in a rejoinder clarified that his threats to punish party delegates’ who failed to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo in last Sunday’s elections were a mere joke.

“I would like to place on record that my light hearted attempt at humour has been misconstrued and in that regard, I unconditionally withdraw those comments which were meant to be in jest,” he said.

Daniel Bugri Naabu on Friday set up a three-member committee to investigate and fish out some party delegates’ who refused to vote for two-time presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo in last Sunday’s super delegates’ congress.

[contextly_sidebar id=”An2PmDgi4fREeEhxIJreJIAGVP6Mp4gV”]The delegates in the region, according to Bugri Naabu, swore an oath to reject all other presidential candidate aspirants hoping to make it onto the list of final five to contest the party’s presidential primaries on October 18.

But with the announcement of the results, it was revealed that some eight delegates broke the oath by voting for other candidates.

In an interview on Eyewitness News, Naabu admitted to setting up a committee to investigate the matter and also stated that he had the right to punish any party member in the region who disobeyed his wishes.

He said although his actions were in contravention to the party’s constitution, he had the mandate to punish any offenders.

However, in his rejoinder, the NPP Northern Regional chairman vehemently denied ordering party delegates to swear an oath.

“I have no authority to set up a committee to investigate who did or did not vote for a particular candidate and so no such committee can or will be set up. Furthermore, no oaths were sworn to coerce people to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo,” he said.

Below is Bugri Naabu’s rejoinder

RE: BUGRI NAABU INVESTIGATES ALAN’S 4 VOTES IN THE NORTHERN REGION

My attention has been drawn to a report by Citi FM on my comments during a visit by youth organizers of the Northern region to my home today.

In those comments, I am reported as saying that I would institute a committee to investigate the eight people who swore by the Bible and Quran but did not vote for Nana Akufo-Addo in the just ended Special Delegates Congress.

I would like to place on record that my light hearted attempt at humour has been misconstrued and in that regard I unconditionally withdraw those comments which were meant to be in jest.

I have no authority to set up a committee to investigate who did or did not vote for a particular candidate and so no such committee can or will be set up.

Furthermore, no oaths were sworn to coerce people to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo. I am a democrat and part of a party that believes in democracy. We believe in the right of every individual to exercise their democratic rights.

Daniel Bugri Naabu

Northern Region Chairman

New Patriotic Party

Click on link below to listen to Bugri Naabu’s earlier interview on Eyewitness News

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By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan