Politics of Monday, 17 December 2018
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2018-12-17
Prof. Alabi addressing NDC members at the headquarters after submitting his nomination forms
2020 NDC flagbearer aspirant Prof. Joshua Alabi has said any contender who is a beneficiary of favouritism in the race is a weak candidate.
He told Joy News’ Kwesi Parker Wilson only weak children need their parents to do their homework for them.
He made the comment after presenting his nomination forms at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Monday.
He also presented his cheque of 300,000 cedis as a filing fee despite signing a petition requesting for a reduction to 150,000 cedis.
Filing his nomination forms endorsed by party supporters across all 275 constituencies is an important step in officially entering the race to choose the party’s next leader into the 2020 elections.
Prof. Joshua Alabi is one of several aspirants who have complained about an undue advantage going the way of former President John Mahama, believed to be the front runner.
After a party congress in September where John Mahama campaign songs were played, Prof. Joshua Alabi’s Campaign Coordinator Victor Adawudu complained of abuse of the process.
He refused to mention names.
He asked the party to form a special committee which will ensure the campaign and election process will not be “hijacked by some persons for their own parochial interests.”
Speaking to Joy News Monday in response to a question, Prof. Joshua Alabi stressed he does not believe the party is resourcing a candidate.
He explained it is detrimental to the party if indeed its leadership favour a candidate because that is a sign the candidate is weak.
The former Vice-Chancellor and an educationist in an analogy said;
“If you have two children and they come from school with their homework and one does his homework alone and you the father you decide to do the homework for the other, then you know the other is weak.”
The flagbearer aspirant said he does not want to believe that any leader in the party believes an aspirant is weak enough to need some undue advantage.
Prof. Joshua Alabi said if signs of favouritism exists then “it is an error to be corrected.”
Surrounded by his campaign team and egged on by his supporters, the university don said the day is historic for him because it signifies a formal return to politics.
He touted political and professional positions in addition to several awards over the decades as proof of his mettle and political stature within the party.
“I have presented all this because it is believed by some sections of the party that we don’t have the men,” said the man named the 2012 CIMG Marketing Man of the Year.
Image result for CIMG Marketing man alabi 2012
In addition to John Mahama and Prof. Joshua Alabi, six more aspirants picked presidential nomination forms.
They are Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban SK Bagbin, former Trade minister Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a former government appointee Sylvester Mensah, a returnee to the party Goosie Tanoh, and Nurideen Iddrisu, Stephen Atubiga whose political experience has been obscure.
The forms cost 20,000 cedis to pick and 300,000 cedis to submit. Only four have submitted their forms as of Monday.