Growing Discontent Among NDC Supporters In Tamale
There is growing discontentment among supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the leadership style of the party in the metropolis, leading to disagreements and harassment of some members.
The latest incident involved the towing away of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) vehicle from the home of the immediate past Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Alhaji Haruna Abdulai Friday, on Monday, by a group of irate youth of the party in Tamale, known as �NATO Forces.�
They accused Alhaji Friday of appropriating the Ford Everest vehicle with registration number GE 9338 Y to himself before leaving office and vowed that as citizen vigilantes, they would protect the assets of the state.
According to the secretary of the group, Abubakar Mu-aissin, their checks at the assembly indicated that the vehicle was never auctioned.
�We are committed to helping the President fight corruption in the system, therefore, our action is informed by the simple reason that we will not sit down and allow public officials to steal any government property,� he explained.
Asked why the vehicle was not sent to the police but parked at their base at Changli, a suburb along the Teaching Hospital road, the secretary said, �We have no faith in the police. Since they worked under the former MCE, they could be compromised.�
When contacted, Alhaji Friday explained that the vehicle was sold to him under a �special auction offer� a couple of months ago. Even though he declined to mention the amount involved, he alleged he had duly paid for it.
The former MCE later displayed letters and receipts to authenticate his claims. Alhaji Friday said at the time of the incident, he was not at home.
He said his wife called to inform him that the group forcibly opened the garage to tow the vehicle away, after pushing her aside. The group, however, refuted the claim and said there was no resistance when they went in for the vehicle.
He has since reported the matter to the police. The Northern Regional Police Crime Offer, Alhaji Mahama Arhin, confirmed the story and said investigations were underway to apprehend the perpetrators of the act.
Early last Sunday, some disgruntled members of the party in the Tamale Central Constituency chased away the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini. One of his loyalists and his bodyguard were allegedly assaulted in the process.
The incident occurred at the Tamale Stadium conference hall, where a meeting was being held to reconcile aggrieved members of the party, who claimed to have been ignored by their leadership, including the MP, since assumption of office.
It is not exactly clear the reason why the youth wanted to vent their spleen on the MP, who is also the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
The spokesperson of the Tamale Central NDC ward executives, Issah Dabale, who had earlier called on the President and national executive of the party to intervene to bring sanity into the operations of the NDC in the area a couple of weeks ago, has condemned the action of the youth.
�When I realised the growing tension at the meeting, leading to insults and the throwing of sachet water at him, I asked some of my guys to whisk the minister away,� he explained.
The secretary, however, said just when the minister had left and he was also on his way, he spotted some of the members beating up somebody, but sanity prevailed later. No one has been arrested yet in connection with the alleged assault.
He accused the party leadership in the area of neglecting the foot soldiers who he claimed risked their lives and toiled and sacrificed for the NDC to retain power.
Source: Daily Graphic
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