Mr. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, NDC flagbearer hopeful.
The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, says members of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stopped meeting because of their humiliation by former President John Mahama and his appointees.
He added that the humiliation suffered by the leadership of the party, including the party’s founder, Jerry John Rawlings, compelled the Council of Elders to completely stay away from the Presidency.
According to him, because the party elders were dissatisfied, there was no coordination to turn round the fortunes of the party.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency explained that the humiliation of the elders contributed to the NDC’s embarrassing defeat in the 2016 general elections.
Mr. Bagbin, who was addressing party supporters from Ashaiman, Tema West, Tema Central and Tema East, pointed out that Mr Mahama should not be given a second chance to lead the party.
Recounting his experience at the Presidency to buttress his point, the legislator said that he attempted on five occasions to meet the former President for talks but was prevented by his powerful advisors.
According to him, some party stalwarts contributed their quota behind the scene to help unite the party as a result of the mistreatment of party members under the leadership of Mr Mahama, but that could not help the party.
He said he and party stalwarts like Dr Obed Aasamoah helped to resolve the impasse between late former President John Evans Atta Mills and JJ Rawlings, saying that the situation was different under John Mahama.
The presidential aspirant said “When Mahama became President the fragile unity that had been achieved was threatened because he failed to work with the party leadership.
According to the MP, former President Mahama violated the party’s constitution by ignoring the National Chairman and General Secretary of the party.
He said the former President Mahama chose to empower members of the opposition party with juicy contracts to the detriment of the NDC supporters.
Mr Bagbin revealed that he has enormous respect for other party members, who want to become flagbearers, urging them to unite to capture power from the NDC.
Ben Doe, the Constituency Chairman for Tema West, applauded the former Majority Leader for his enthusiasm in leading the party to victory in 2020.
They expressed optimism that Mr Bagbin would not repeat the mistakes of former President Mahama.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema