Politics of Friday, 26 April 2013
Source: peacefmonline
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has debunked claims that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is abandoning the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to take up a position with the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Uganda.
Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, though wrote off the claims; he however advised the NPP 2012 vice presidential candidate to consider moving to the bank because to him, the NPP does not have solid evidence so far as the election petition is concerned.
Speaking on Radio Gold, he said Dr. Bawumia’s appointment is not an indication that he has betrayed his party but “he’s just abandoning the cause of action that they have brought…It’s reasonable. I mean Dr. Bawumia is not a stupid man; he’s very intelligent…He knows exactly the case and where it is going. And I think that this is logical; this is consistent.”
Describing the appointment as a subtle move, he revealed that Dr. Bawumia had already accepted the appointment and would return to head the African Development Bank in Uganda.
He explained that claims that Dr. Bawumia took a leave of absence from the bank to pursue his vice presidential career are “because having posted him to Uganda, he is unable to assume duty in Uganda by reason of the fact that he is in court. So, he applies to the African Development Bank for a special leave to enable him prosecute the matter in court. But it is very revealing that at this present time in our history; at this present time that an election petition is being challenged and Dr. Bawumia is a star or key witness in the matter, he has thought it wise…to return to his former job.”
He urged the NPP stalwart to seize the opportunity to head the bank, stating firmly that the move would be “reasonable. It’s logical. He must survive. He has opportunity to come back and contest elections some other day, and some other time if he wins the confidence of his party in primaries or if he is selected or nominated by a presidential candidate to partner him in any other election. He should not let the chance go by…He should accept it and go.”