Daniel Bugri Naabu and Otiko Afisa Djaba
The National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) – the highest decision making body after congress -, will hold a crucial meeting today to look into the recent bickering rocking the ruling party, involving two party top notches – Otiko Afisa Djaba and Daniel Bugri Naabu.
The two have been at each other’s throat, smearing each other with uncomplimentary comments in the past few days.
Otiko Afisa Djaba, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, last week threw caution to the wind when she accused the Northern Regional Chairman of the party, Bugri Naabu, of receiving goats and cows from individuals with the promise of securing appointments in public office for them, particularly district chief executive (DCE) positions.
Mr. Naabu, in a subsequent media interview, caused a stir when he reportedly suggested that Otiko Djaba was involved in the murder of the former NPP Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama.
Mr Bugri Naabu is reported to have disrupted a meeting organised by Ms Otiko Djaba on May 5 with some NPP women.
He described the meeting as “illegal” because neither he nor the party executives in the Northern Region were notified about it.
It emerged that Mr Naabu’s action was in reaction to the purported refusal of Ms Otiko Djaba to allow him to select a coordinator for the school feeding programme in the region.
However, the acrimonious media banter is painting the party black, leading to the calling of the National Council meeting.
A Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen, told Citi Fm the development was ‘unfortunate.’
He said, “It has been decided that the party will be meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] to discuss that particular issue because it is very much important and particular to us. Tomorrow at 7pm we are meeting.”
Nana Obiri Boahen said tentatively, the Council had not invited the two individuals at the centre of the issue to the meeting.
Ahead of the meeting, Otiko Djaba has asked Ghanaians for forgiveness for her ‘unguarded’ statement.
Even though she defended her vituperation against the NPP regional chairman, she rendered the apology.
“Because I am a woman he feels he can bully me…but I apologise to all Ghanaians for what happened,” she said.
But Otiko Djaba said although her reaction was in defence of women who have constantly been disrespected by men in the society, she believes it was not in good taste.