Bolgatanga Bull Dogs bark at NPP leaders over Afoko 'removal'
The leader of the Bolgatanga Bull Dogs, Reginald Yusif Ayikande has served notice the New Patriotic Party (NPP) risks whittling its support base in northern Ghana if it proceeds to suspend national chairman, Paul Afoko.
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The vigilante group that claims roots within the country’s biggest opposition party says already, people up north are annoyed with the manner the chairman has been treated since his election and suspending him could cost the party some considerable votes. It could even destroy the party in northern Ghana, he told Radio Gold on Monday.
The NPP has summoned Paul Afoko to appear before its disciplinary committee for alleged infractions amidst calls for his suspension from post until after the 2016 general elections.
But Ayikande says that pursuit, apart from it not being proper, will not augur well for party fortunes and the search for peace.
He said the party has not known peace since it regrouped from Talensi where it contested but lost a by-election, with party leaders accusing each other of one malfeasance or another each passing day.
“Since we go Talensi come, we think say party will get peace, everyday trouble, everyday trouble. Today people chop money, tomorrow wahala. Like that aaa, we no hear any good thing about the party. Everybody dey go air to speak about the party. Only last week our leader come talk say everybody for cease fire so that normal peace for come for party inside. Then we hear again say, they want remove chairman Afoko from the place. And these things, we sit down and look in, eno be proper, because we see how people for north make annoyed, because of this thing our leaders want do for Accra. Then we say no, we for let our leaders know say eno be Accra alone be the party. They come (have they come) to talk to the people for the grassroots say the thing they want do we love am? Why Paul Afoko for go out of the party? Because he go air go talk, because he go report himself give police. People do a lot of things, plenty things they no talk, they keep quiet, they watch them. Because they no love Paul Afoko for lead our party, he alone they say make he stay away.”
Ayikande said the group loves party leader and flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, however events in the party are annoying the people.
He said the developments within the party could cost the party its parliamentary seats in northern Ghana as it will make electioneering campaign rather difficult. He also rejected a claim that the party is only asking Paul Afoko to step aside briefly, saying it is only a ploy to kick him out permanently. He said even while Paul Afoko holds office, he is neither consulted nor listened to, let alone when he steps aside.
He said too many people in the party who are displeased with the developments are only silent for fear of losing their daily bread.