General News of Tuesday, 1 January 2019
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2019-01-01
Nurideen Iddrisu, NDC flagbearer aspiranT
A flagbearer aspirant for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the party must restore the values of discipline, probity and accountability if it wants to win power and make an impact in the 2020 elections.
Nurideen Iddrisu believes those values were the hallmark of the 31st December revolution which changed the course of Ghana and brought back hope when the country had been drowned in deep-seated corruption.
Addressing senior cadres, leading members of the party during the 37th Anniversary of the 31st December Revolution in Ashaiman, he said the NDC must begin to do an introspection and weed out members who have lost touch with the values that form the foundations of the NDC.
“It is sad, Mr President,” the NDC flagbearer who was adjudged as the most promising Muslim politician for 2018 noted, looking in the direction of the ex-president John Rawlings.
“The values you fought for no longer exist in the NDC and in the country,” he added.
He believes “our grassroots have been marginalized. Contractors work but they don’t get paid. There is no longer discipline” Mr Iddrisu stated, adding “but there is an opportunity for change.”
He called on delegates to begin the change they seek by electing the candidate who has their best interest at heart and who will imbibe the values of transparency, probity and accountability whilst in government.
“I am that choice you seek,” he stated.
He was one of six flagbearer aspirants who addressed the occasion. The others include Mr Sylvester Mensah, Dr Ekwow Spio Gabrah, Prof. Joshua Alabi, Goozie Tanoh and Alban Bagbin, whose address was read for him by former Information Minister Fritz Baffour.
It was also a solemn occasion to remember the fallen heroes of the 31st December revolution who lost their lives in the course of fighting corruption.
Wreathes were laid on behalf of security services, farmers, cadre corps, traditional leaders all of whom played key roles in the Revolution.
Even though ex-president John Rawlings was expected to light the perpetual flame, Alhaji Hudu Yahya did that on his behalf.
Young patriots with Bernice Ametwu as the parade commander treated the celebrants to a well drilled, well rehearsed parade performance much to the admiration of many.
Former SuperBantamweight champion Isaac Dogbey also gave a solidarity message charging the youth to uphold the principles of integrity in all their dealings.
“I am not here as a politician but as a young patriot who believes in the fight against corruption,” he said.
“It took the revolution to bring Ghana to where it is at the moment. We need good leaders to ensure good governance stability and peace,” he added.
The crowd burst into wild jubilation when the ex-president stepped up to address the cadres and the members of the NDC.
Ex-president John Rawlings did not understand why the multiparty system which has brought progress and development to other countries has continuously delivered poverty and underdevelopment to Ghana and other African countries.
It is because we have elevated wrongdoing to an acceptable limit and we are celebrating it,” he was quick to conclude.
“Truth is alien to our party and country. We can never liberate our country with such a masquerade.”
