Haruna is primus inter pares in the North, his popularity is legendary – Pratt

Haruna is primus inter pares in the north, his popularity is legendary – Pratt

Tamale South Member of Parliament Haruna Iddrisu is a big personality in the Northern Region therefore, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) should consider the prevailing political situation before taking a decision to remove him as Minority Leader in Parliament, Managing Editor of ing Insight Kwasi Pratt Jnr, has said.

Mr Pratt described Mr Iddrisu as primus inter pares.

Speaking on the Alhaji and Alhaji event on Saturday, January 28 Mr. Pratt said “Haruna Iddrisu may have all his faults but he is primus inter pares in the Northern region. I have been to Tamale on many occasions, I went to school in Tamale, I know Tamale is close too . This is a person who comes to Tamale and doesn’t drive a car, I have seen people riding just a regular bike moving from place to place holding caucuses in the streets, playing cards with members. I have seen them riding motorbikes going to funerals and so on.

“His popularity is legendary and whenever he is touched there are consequences. He is not God, he is not omniscient, he is not omnipotent, he is not omnipresent, he can be removed but if you want to get rid of him there are things you have to do knowing the political situation. Is it finished?

“This is a reckless move, a reckless move. So what have you achieved? You have created the conditions for all the speculation. Just yesterday I listened to my colleagues at PLTN discussing this matter, let’s see, as if they have won a bonanza. Wrong one of them actually went to the extent of saying John Mahama directed this move because he had a rift with Haruna, he wanted to show Haruna some sense. This is not true, John Mahama is not comfortable with this move.

Apary of Haruna Iddrisu, Muntakla Mubarak and James Kluste Avedzi have also been removed as Minority Chief Whip and Deputy Minority Leader.

The removal has divided the Minority caucus with some of the party petitioning against the decision.

For example, Zebilla Eaast member of parliament, Cletus Avoka said the Speaker of Parliament has not informed the Minority caucus and the entire House about the changes made in the Minority leadership, so Haruna Iddrisu and others who were removed are still in office.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament on Thursday, January 26, he said “For us, there has been no reshuffle, the Speaker has not communicated with us.”

Aswase Member of Parliament Muntaka Mubarak who was also affected by the change called on his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to sit down.

Muntaka was not happy with the changes made in the Minority leadership by the party.

He believed that the decision was made by some executives even though the statement announcing it was signed by Secretary General Fifi Kwetey.

“If you can’t write a letter for an appointment, how can you write one to disappoint?” He asked at a press conference.

He added “We don’t want to create animosity between us unnecessarily, we believe that due process should be followed.”

He further stated that “if the right process is done, we will be happy and grateful for the opportunity to serve.

“I hope they will help quickly hear the matter.”

The decision to change leadership created divisions among the minority caucus.

NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia and General Secretary Fifi Kwetey will attend the meeting.

So far, forty-eight opposition MPs have signed a petition to the party executive to reverse the decision.

According to them, the decision is unpopular and they want it reversed.

Some NDC MPs including Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed were surprised by the NDC’s decision to replace the party leader in Parliament.

The decision was made on Tuesday, January 24 with the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Constituency, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, replacing Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah of Ellembelle also replaced James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader.

Speak in TV3‘s News 360 on January 24, after the news of the decision broke, MP Tamale Central said there was any discussion with the caucus before the release.

“Every Member of Parliament is surprised,” he said, “And I can say that those who have been proposed to be leaders, some are surprised that the proposal was made without asking.”

He condemned the manner of communication, saying as a member of parliament, he got his decision on social media like many other NDC MPs.

“It’s not like that,” he said.

“NDC is a democratic party. We have been called the pacesetters of this democracy. NDC gave birth to the 1992 Constitution, so we all agreed to define the path of democracy.

He, therefore, indicated that the NDC should be the last to ignore the principles of democracy and by making these decisions without consulting the group – or the caucus – it caused, for him, disrespect.

The former Nanton MP said his experience of being in the Sixth Parliament and even the Eighth Parliament told him that there was active consultation between the party leadership and the caucus before the decision was made.

“How do you choose a leader for a group without consulting the group?” he wondered.

“Who said that the group will be satisfied with the person you elect? Now if the group is not comfortable with the person you elect, then that will be the beginning of the failure of that leadership.

Also, the Member of Parliament for Agotime Ziope, Charles Agbeve demanded an explanation of the decision.

Mr. Agbeve said the NDC lawmakers were shocked after the announcement of the change because consultation was not done on the matter.

He told TV3 in an interview that “I was surprised, the news hit me because it was one of the last pieces of news I had at this time, so I was shocked.

“It took me a long time to appreciate the news because usually, the national executive will engage with the leadership of the Parliament and if the leader thinks of engagement, he cannot consult, he meets all the caucus and I can. countless engagements between the caucus and the national executive on all issues.

“There are problems when they arise, leaders think let’s take advice from the national executive and then give direction. So people will think that there will be a shake-up like this, there will be some engagements and engagements will reduce the shock and surprise.

“You will know there will be some changes here and then people will give input and suggestions but this is not done and I want to know what is in this mind, I want some explanation, which will give all the reasons to support.”

Meanwhile, NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the decision was made based on the current trend of debate on national issues.

“Other debates and discussions will focus on the economy so you have to make the best people in the economy develop, which is what we have done,” Accra-based Joy FM said.

“We are also looking at energy. This challenge of petroleum and electricity and that is why we have to solve Kofi-Armah Buah, former Minister of Energy to be the Deputy Minority Leader and another area is infrastructure, Kwame Agbodza being a person in infrastructure must play an important role. So generally those who give information about change.

By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana

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