By the time you read this piece, the Elephant would be climaxing its annual delegates conference in Kumasi. I’m certain the party would be leaving the conference energized, but still somewhat divided. It’s the reason I write to remind them of the potential pitfalls ahead.
“Let’s unite as a party. I have said this before; I would rather be a messenger in a winning party taking over government, than be a proud General Secretary of a losing party which would be in opposition.”
Those were the wise words of President J. A. Kufuor to members of the Elephant fraternity after they had allowed power to slip through their fingers in the 2008 polls. The Elephant continued the bickering and in-fighting until Zu-za, through its incompetence, profligacy and create, loot and share schemes, allowed it back on the presidential throne in 2017.
Did I see you bat an eyelid? Of course Candidate Nana Dee, his running mate and the party at large worked very hard for the 2016 electoral victory. But the bitter truth is that the bickering, name-calling and vicious in-fighting among those riding the Elephant did not give a picture of a party ready for power in 2017.
Do you remember the acid-bathing episode which led to the unfortunate death of Adams Mahama, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the party? Not forgetting the internal bickering and the leadership struggle that led to the indefinite suspension of Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyapong and Sammy Crabbe? Indeed, unity would be the last reason to be attributed to the party’s victory in the 2016 polls.
Unfortunately, things are different this time:Â the Elephant is not in opposition to benefit from its opponent’s incompetence and corrupt practices come 2024. The Elephant must win on its own strength. That’s why the Elephant cannot afford to continue with divisive practices, which could make them lose the presidential throne.
I do understand that jostling for executive positions in the party or the flagbearership position could be intense and even acrimonious sometimes. But if all were guided by President Kufuor’s quote above, I’m sure the party would emerge stronger and more united.
As I mused sometime back: when heavy clouds are gathering and you have clothes hanging on the drying line, the wisest thing to do is to hurriedly remove the clothes. You also hurriedly call your carpenter to fix your dangling roofing sheets, don’t you?
Let the Elephant not repeat the destructive habit of carelessly leaving its clothes on the drying line and irrationally removing its roofing sheets with no carpenter in sight, when the clouds are gathering and the rains threatening to pour.
I do have a preferred candidate in the flagbearership contest. I will leave no stone unturned in my bid to see him win; I expect others to do same for their candidates. But insults, backbiting, lies and unsubstantiated allegations must be avoided if we really want to ‘break the eight’.
I therefore, humbly call upon all members of the Osono family to heed the call for unity and sacrifice, because by the time the fool has learned the game, the players have already dispersed.
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!