Mills told Rawlings he would be one-term president – Konadu

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings says she contested late President Mills in the primaries of the National Democratic Congress because the late president had assured Mr. Rawlings he would be a one-term president.

“President Mills came to him (Mr. Rawlings) and said I need to just be able to get this and I am going to do it for one term, because I am not well,” she explained the undercurrent that influenced her action.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings challenged the then sitting President in the NDC’s 2011 Presidential primaries in a race many described as the most acrimonious ever.

Mrs. Rawlings revealed why she contested an incumbent on Multi TV’s current affairs program PM Express.

President Mills however polled almost 97 percent of votes at the Sunyani congress of the party to beat Mrs. Rawlings.

She later broke off to join the National Democratic Party as the presidential candidate, but was disqualified by the Electoral Commission from contesting the national elections on technical grounds.

Mrs. Rawlings said the late Mills had unveiled a number of issues to the Ralwingses, which made her psyched herself up, and was in a pole position for the NDC’s presidential slot. She was however not prepared to divulge those issues on the programme.

 She reiterated: “From the beginning we knew that he was going for one term and a couple of things happened that then opened the way for contestants.”

She also disclosed that until former President Mills rescinded his decision and decided to attempt a second term, former President Rawlings was solidly behind her candidature.

“From that point of view [that Mills was not going for a second term] he was supporting me then, but things turn differently,” she commented.