When our compatriots who get the opportunity of ruling this country exit the position of president, they deserve respect.
The reference is not automatic because some former presidents do not conduct themselves well and in the event open themselves up for avoidable verbal assaults or even scathing innuendos. At this stage, they no longer command respect because they become negatively exposed by dint of inclement language they relish and spew.
We wish former President John Mahama whose desperation and sometimes frustrations lead him to make remarks which are not commensurate with his status as former head of state could just manage his utterances to avoid the many invectives in the quavers of those he seeks to hurl insults at.
He does not appear to be doing so and in the event we cannot but address this shortcoming of his in a manner we deem appropriate.
He has recently taken an unnecessary swipe at his successor whose chair he thinks is fair game to ridicule.
What is wrong with carrying one’s own chair if that serves a particular orthopaedic or even security need?  Or even for reasons known only to the man who uses such a chair.
The former president who carries a special flask about wherever he goes should be kind enough to tell Ghanaians the contents of the flask. It has been a practice for a while now. Observers are making interesting inferences which we are unable to repeat here all about what is in the flask which makes the former president spew such venom like ‘Akyem sakawa’ or make remarks which are unusual and would not be made by persons who do not carry flasks about.
It is the contents and its correlation to his ability to speak without weighing the implication that is the subject of our curiosity, not whether or the flask is Thermos or any other brand.
It is only when he quaffs the contents of the flask which he does often that his utterances turn the corner or become inappropriate and make dizzying headlines.
These days, the flask and its contents lead him to not only make unfeasible promises he casts outrageous insinuations.
In his latest subtle attack on the President, he is reported to have said that when he returns he won’t be carrying a chair about obviously seeking to ridicule his successor.
Shall we ask, ‘when you return as what?’ As opposition leader for the second time? We remember his interview with the BBC on whether he has ever received a bribe or not and his question as to whether as a president or what.
Having a special chair taken to occasions for the convenience of the President is, of course, better than carrying a flask about just so its contents can give you a certain ‘high’ cannot come anywhere near a chair.
A desperate opposition leader is on the prowl.