“They thought it was not possible, but by the grace of God, it is possible.” Those were the words of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia after his landslide victory in the Osono Super Delegates Conference last Saturday. What a thrashing it was!
Dr. Bawumia polled 68.15% of the total votes cast, with Hon. Kennedy Agyapong coming a distant second with 14.5%. Alan Kyeremanten, aka Chief Alan, could only manage a paltry 10.29% to claim the third slot, while Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto took the fourth slot with 4.5%.
Joe Ghartey, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Kofi Konadu Apraku and Kwadwo Poku failed to garner enough votes to qualify for the next phase of the Osono presidential race.
A run-off will, however, be held on Saturday, September 2, to decide the fate of Addai-Nimo and Boakye Agyarko after both presidential aspirants secured 9 votes.
I pray that the two save the party the ‘wahala’ of organising a run-off contest for them since they themselves know it is easier for a goat to fly than either of them winning the Osono flagbearership position.
But I doubt if Boakye Agyarko would see reason in doing so since the bitterness he abhors against the Nana Dee government could be visited on the party.
Abusuapanin, I’m particularly happy because Bawumia’s victory has cured three political myths and misconceptions.
It is more than clear now that political leadership for electoral victory is not on ‘first-come, first-serve’Â basis. It’s about whom best appeals to the masses in a given season. The Osono party Methusela campaigning on ‘Aduru Mi So’ should be awake now to smell the coffee.
Also, the myth that Ashanti Region would not vote Dr. Bawumia because it is Alan’s home region has now been demystified. The overwhelming endorsement of Dr. Bawumia by the delegates of Ashanti Region amplifies the argument that Dr Bawumia is the candidate of choice.
Dr. Bawumia’s overwhelming endorsement in the Ashanti Region, and all the regions for that matter, in the just ended special delegates elections has clearly ridiculed the claim that Osono is an ‘Akan party’.
Certainly, Bawumia’s victory has heralded a dawn of a new era in leadership, where for the first time in its history, a ‘Muslim Northerner’ is leading the charge for the Busia-Danquah-Dombo tradition.
Other candidates may rationalize their defeat and give themselves false hope in the upcoming November 4 Osono flagbearership contest. But the reality is that super delegates is an aggregation of the views of the masses and have decisively spoken through their representatives. The masses themselves will affirmed decision come November 4.
Victory in all the 17 polling stations speaks to the overwhelming popularity of Dr. Bawumia in the Osono fraternity. The dose will be repeated on November 4 for all to see their ‘smoothness level’. Bet me for 1,000 USD if you doubt my prediction.
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa Deo volente!