Replace Mills, he is sick —MP,• But collegues disagree

Page 13, Jan 31, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya, Mr Michael Teye Nyaunu incurred the displeasure of his colleagues yesterday when he called for an emergency congress to replace Professor J. E. A. Mills as the party’s presidential candidate.
He cited the alleged ill health of the party’s presidential candidate as his reason for calling for his immediate replacement.
Speaking on the issue at the Coffee Shop at Parliament he said, “Let us face the fact and bite the bullet now since time is not on our side,” stressing that “doing so now will be in the interest of the party”.
But his call, which he referred to as his candid opinion, attracted some Minority MPs to the Coffee Shop.
The Daily Graphic learnt that when the NDC MP for Nabdam, Mr Moses Asaga got to the scene, he fumed and described the suggestion by his colleague as “a stupid candid opinion”.
Eyewitness to the event said Mr Nyaunu, who was granting an interview to a reporter, was nearly heckled by his colleagues.
It said their attempt to restrain him from making further pronouncement on the issue resulted in the abrupt end of the interview.
At the scene, a number of NDC MPs were seen expressing their displeasure about Mr Nyaunu’s action. Mr E. T Mensah MP for Ningo Prampram pointed out that “even if Professor Mills is confined to a wheelchair, we will use him to win the 2008 elections”.
Later, Mr Nyaunu told the Daily Graphic, that, “I represent the voice of the silent majority in the party who hold a similar view”.
He said the party was making a big mistake by refusing to accept the fact that Professor Mills was not fit to contest the December polls.
“If we don’t take care, the man himself will throw in the towel and we will all be ashamed, it will be too late for us”, he said and refused to further talk to the press.
Reacting to the incident, the MP for Bawku Central, who was the Spokesperson for Professor Mill’s Campaign Team during the party’s primaries, Mr Mahama Ayariga said the pronouncement by the MP showed the level of growth of the party’s internal democracy.
“We are not the least disturbed about such comments since they featured prominently during the primaries”, he said.
He stated that Professor Mills was very well to contest the elections stressing that his popularity was sending shivers to the camp of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“Professor Mills will be back soon to continue with his door-to-door campaign to whip up support for the December elections”, he stated.