Alan Kojo Kyeremanteng is sitting on a political cliff that is about to deliver him up to the abyss of political oblivion. Many political pundits have predicted an Alan extinction should he fail to win the October 18th NPP presidential primaries. I do agree with those pundits.
If the results of the super delegate conference is anything to go by, then it is not difficult for one to assume that October 18th For now all indicators point to a resounding victory for Nana Akufu Addo, the man who has been the standard bearer for the New Patriotic Party for the last two elections. Almost all the national and regional executives have pledged their unflinching support for him.
Alan’s campaign strategy, which is focused on galvanizing the youth vote (the largest constituency) in the delegate conference seem to be falling apart. So far, all the regional youth groups have endorsed Akufu Addo’s candidacy. With the situation on the grounds, it would not be surprising for Nana Addo to garner over 90% of the votes come October 18th
What is killing off Alan?
It is an understatement for one to say that Nana is the most popular person in NPP. He is in fact the most popular politician in Ghana. It was not a coincidence that at a recent “my first day in school” event, a pupil named Nana Addo as the president of Ghana.
Never in the history of the Danquah Busia Dombo tradition had anybody obtain over 70% votes in a presidential primary contest. The idea that Nana’s popularity is only within NPP is a misconception and one that can only be treated as propaganda.
For Alan’s camp to use Nana’s failure to win the presidency in 2008 and 2012 as basis for his disaffection among the general Ghanaian populace is unfounded. Every serious and rational politician should be able to fathom the factors that culminated in Nana’s defeat in those elections. I will mention but a few.
I am not one of the Afari Gyan results massaging conspirators. I think that assertion is bogus. The main cause for NPP defeat in 2008 was complacency. The party wholly believed that victory was assured, banking on the tremendous achievements of Kufour’s administration.
It was not surprising that when nomination was opened for the flag bearer race in 2007, 17 aspirants filed to contest. A behavior that irked majority of Ghanaians especially the independent voters. There was also an issue of general NPP fatigue among Ghanaians after 8yrs of Kuffour led NPP admintration. Just like Ghanaians rejected the NDC after Rawlings 8yrs rule, the same was to be expected, irrespective of Kuffour’s achievements.
In 2012, who would not say John Mahama won on sympathy votes? may well send Alan to a political retirement. As much as Ghanaian’s did not like Atta Mills government, they did love his personality. He was a honest man who was trying to do his part for the country. Ghanaians did not wish him dead. His death was an unwholesome lifeline to the Mahama campaign.
The second straw that is killing Alan is his campaign team members cum strategists. Alan’s team comprising of Dr. Anane, Mr. Ohene Ntow, Okatakyie and the like have no clue about what they are doing. In fact, they don’t have a plan.
The notion that by branding Nana Addo as old, unappealing and unelectable, the electorate would reject him smacks off political naivety at best. Which serious strategist will craft a campaign on a cliché that only “Johns” are elected presidents in Ghana so people should vote for him? That is an insult to the intelligence of the Ghanaian electorates. In my neighborhood, a “John” is an imbecile. Ghanaians have seen the untoward hardship that the so-called “Johns” and the youthful minds in the governing NDC have brought on them. How inexperience and careless youthful exuberance have degenerate the once burgeoning Ghanaian economy.
The huge support that Nana is enjoying across the country and among Diasporas is a clear indication that Ghanaians have learnt their lesson and are not going to toy with the affairs of the country anymore.
The third straw is Alan loyalty to the NPP. Many people within NPP have question Alan’s loyalty to the party, and have called his commitment mediocre. Most grassroots members believe that Alan goes on hiatus when the party is in opposition, only to resurface to contest primary elections.
I personally don’t think Alan’s commitment is questionable to the NPP echelon, but when the grassroots which form the largest constituency in the party brand you as disloyal, that is a problem. The fourth is the issue of factionalism and the so-called tribalism within the NPP party. Though this may contribute to a lesser extent the fortunes of a presidential aspirant, I don’t think it’s a major issue. Factionalism is very mundane in party politics, from Australia to Zimbabwe. In much developed democracies, it is obscured into constituency of interest groups. I would therefore not spend time on it.
Alan’s lifeline.
With about 24 hours to go, I still believe Alan can save himself and probably live a little longer. At this moment, we don’t need any political analyst to tell us that Nana would be declared a winner on Saturday. The question on everybody’s mind is how much percentage is he going to get? I predicts 92%.
If Nana garner over 90%, how much will that weigh on Alan’s political future? Will he able to come off the humiliation to run again in the future? Who will be his support base? Does he risk the label of an “also run”? Will his shellacking open the NPP field for potential aspirants in 2024, should Nana become president in 2016?
I think Alan can save his life by doing one thing. He must go to the congress and without mincing words declare his unflinching support for Nana Addo. He should go further to offer himself to work wholeheartedly or Nana’s campaign and promise to be under his tutelage.
A move like this would not only save Alan from political suicide, but would also win him the support of the grassroots. He will also position himself as the heir in waiting to take up the mantle from Nana come 2024. I know this sounds trivial, but in politics what wins in triviality.