The NPP in the Walewale constituency in the Northern region is accusing the Overlord of Buipe Traditional Area, Abdulai Jinapor II of blatantly flouting the chieftaincy institution by openly campaigning for President Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to them, the ruler did not only openly endorse the NDC presidential candidate but went publicly and staged palatial rallies trying to convince chiefs to support President Mahama’s candidature.
Buipewura is alleged to have convoyed to the Mamprugu area and from one palace to other, advising chiefs to support President Mahama’s second ter bid.
Speaking to Ultimate News’ Eliasu Tanko, NPP youth secretary Mr. Shamsudeen Iddrisu alleged that the Overlord of Buipe, made his first stop at the Wungu chief’s palace near Walewale where he addressed the Wungu Naa and several sub-chiefs.
He claimed the influential Gonja chief openly told his colleague chiefs to reject their kinsman- the vice presidential candidate of NPP Dr Mahamadu Bawumia because he was a ‘decoy’ in the NPP.
According to him, Buipewura Jinapor II told them Mamprusi would be disrespected if they vote for Nana Akuffo Addo and NPP.
“Buipewura II came to see how we are doing and to tell us that on elections day we should vote for John Mahama because he is a northerner, but if we vote for Nana Addo, a day would come Mamprusi would be thrown far away because there is no way they would allow Bawumia to lead the NPP. I laughed it off because Atta Mills wasn’t a northerner but he brought John Mahama and I don’t think Nana Addo would choose Bawumia if he won’t allow him to lead the party in his absence”, A sub chief Kpalsi-Lana Baba Sheini of the Janga palace said.
Meanwhile, a newly formed youth group in the constituency has served warning to the overlord of Buipe to stay away from the area and not repeat the move.
A member of the Mamprugu Youth Network of NPP Seidu Gaziry, said the Buipe chief was ‘lucky the youth didn’t know” about his campaign visit.
The angry member suggested that they would ‘assault’ the chief if he repeats the move.
“We are not saying no Gonja should come here and do campaign but a personality like that who claims he is a chief can come in here and do that; we are daring him, we are telling him he should let it be his first and last if he thinks he is man enough and he can bark, then he is welcome”, Gaziry fumed.
However, elder son and spokesperson of the Buipewura Dr. Ahmed Jinapor rejected the accusation and said the chief would never engage in partisan politics.
“The Buipewura is a chief and so if he visits the Naayiri and during their private conversation anything comes up it is normal. The Buipewura does not engage in politics and if he wants to engage in politics he would stand on a platform to endorse candidate A or B; so this issue is nothing authentic and I can say on authority that the Buipewura does not support any candidate in this year’s elections,’ he explained.
Dr Ahmed strenuously denied adding that “No Ghanaian in this world including the Asantehene will say he does not have a preference when it comes to candidates. Even the Asantehene has a preference when it comes to the candidate he wants to become a president but he cannot go out publicly and say that he is voting for this person or that person,” he said.
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