Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP presidential candidate, highlighted to the public some statements made by former President John Mahama against him.
During a speech to a lively audience in Jirapa, Upper West Region, Dr. Bawumia mentioned that former President Mahama used tribal politics against the NPP by suggesting that the party would never choose a Northerner as their leader.
He implied that only if the NPP offers him a top position, the people of the North would support him to become President. Interestingly, Mahama had also made similar comments in the Upper West Region leading up to the 2016 elections.
When I decided to contest for the flagbearership of the NPP, many people said it was not possible. They said it won’t happen. They said the NPP would never elect a Northerner to be the leader. But I told them if God says it is possible, it will be possible.
So I went for the contest and by the grace of God, I am the leader of the NPP…You will recall that some time ago former President Mahama said that if the NPP wants the North to vote for them, they should elect Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Today, the NPP has elected Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, so the North, it is now time to vote for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The Vice President emphasized that with himself and Mahama as representatives of the Northerners, this year’s election will be a significant event for the Northern region.
He further highlighted the neglect that former President Mahama showed towards the residents of Jirapa and the entire Northern Regions, failing to bring about any substantial development during his time in office.
It is an important election and an historic election. This is the first time the two leading parties are presenting candidates from the North, so it is going to be a Northern President. It is either Dr. Bawumia or former President Mahama but former President Mahama has been President before and I have not. I have only been a Vice President and my contributions to the development of the North is there for all to see.
But do you recall what former President Mahama did for Jirapa, the Upper West Region and the entire North? He said he set up SADA to develop the North but after millions of dollars, we saw nothing. Can you point to any SADA project here in Jirapa, the Upper West and the Northern Regions? They said they invested in guinea fowls and when we asked them where are the guinea fowls, they said they have flown to Burkina Faso.
We want development and we want to go forward. We want to go forward with digitalization and modern agriculture, not lip-service and guinea fowl which Mahama represented.
