Salaga NDC youth vow to kick against any move to impose DCE

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Apr - 13 - 2013 , 18:13

Some members of the youth wing of the National Democratic Congress in the Salaga Constituency of the Northern Region have called on President John Dramani Mahama to make wide consultations when nominating someone for the position of District Chief Executive for the East Gonja District.
They argued that any person nominated for confirmation as DCE must be a person who was largely accepted by the people and had been recommended by the party’s constituency executive members, traditional rulers and the two parliamentarians from the area.

Addressing a press conference in Tamale, Mr Baba Iddrisu, who led these party youth,called on the President not to be influenced by certain individuals to ignore the recommendations of the various stakeholders and select their preferred candidate.

He said any such move by the President would be suicidal as it would attract hatred for the President and spell doom for the NDC party.

Mr Iddrisu said the youth were earlier informed that five persons had been shortlisted for the position of DCE for East Gonja based on broader consultations.

He said the youth and people of the district would be satisfied if any of these five candidates were nominated.

“We wish to state in unequivocal terms that we would not accept the appointment of any DCE outside the five shortlisted candidates,” he cautioned.

He said in 2000, a parliamentary candidate was imposed on the NDC in the Salaga Constituency and this compelled some party supporters, led by Mr Boniface Sadique, to break-away.

He said as a result, Mr Boniface Sadique contested as an independent candidate and won the elections.

“Imposition is not a good thing for the politics of Salaga because if they dare impose on us a DCE we do not like, we would simply repeat history,” Mr Iddrisu stated.

The youth urged the President to be guided by the principles that govern the functioning of the NDC.

“A party like the NDC that has touted itself as a social democratic party should not be the same party that is imposing leaders on its own grassroots supporters. We are known for practicing egalitarian democracy and we expect nothing else but that,” Mr Iddrisu stated.

The youth, however, assured the President that they would resort to subtle means to demonstrate their opposition to the President’s nominee instead of resorting to violence.

“We will not destroy public property or party structures and paraphernalia because we are well brought up and the President is aware of that,” Mr Iddrisu stated.