Supporters and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been cautioned against mobilising to cheer presidential candidate hopefuls during activities or suffer the consequences.
For the party to break the eight-year rule cycle they must remain united from polling station to national elections and presidential primary which will commence this year to early 2024.
The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Sammy Awuku, cautioned them to discourage cheering presidential candidate hopefuls during funerals and other activities since it would affect the breaking of the eight-year rule jinx.
He advised these in the wake of a disturbing incident that occurred at the funeral of the late father of Gabby Otchere-Darko in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, where a group calling itself Friends of Bawumia for 2024 (FOB) jeered at Alan Kyerematen, the Minister of Trade and Industry.
Members of the group wearing the same branded T-shirts and holding banners stormed the funeral grounds and forecourt of St. Georges Catholic Church auditorium during the burial service to mob Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and jeered his potential opponent in the upcoming NPP presidential race, Mr Kyerematen, who was also present.
But Mr Awuku warned that such acts had tendencies of creating disunity and disaffection and a disciplined party could only break the eight-year rule jinx when its members and supporters understood the presidential primary would be a family contest.
He bemoaned growing sense and strategy of turning funeral grounds into campaigning grounds for would-be presidential candidates, however, constituencies are expected to preserve the peace, unity, cohesion and harmony of the party.
“When it turns out we the constituency executives, play the ostrich, stand aside but send our youth to mobilise other members and supporters to cheer and jeer it will make your work difficult and if you want to also re-organise our people at the base, we might end up breaking ourselves before breaking the eight-year rule jinx.
“So let former President Agyekum Kufuor’s statement still resonate in our ears that it is better to be messenger in a party in government than to be General Secretary for a party in opposition,” Mr Awuku admonished. –kasapafmonline.com