Former President Jerry John Rawlings and wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, are facing the biggest test of their political and social lives as the opposition New Patriotic Party, the pair are now rooting for, never ceases latching onto the sordid record of the Rawlings/NDC I regime while the ruling Mahama led-National Democratic Congress, the party they founded, has been incapacitated defending the duo owing to their antagonistic posturing.
Even as Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings continue to assiduously work to support Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP snatch power from President John Mahama and the NDC in the upcoming November elections, like an albatross; the NPP 2016 flag bearer and his followers continue to hang the excesses of the former couples’ reign on to the neck of the Mahama administration.
However, as a result of the Rawlingses inexorable and senseless attacks on the Mahama-led NDC government, functionaries and activists of the governing party feel reluctant or have refused to mount a defense for the former first family whenever NPP loyalists make reference to the sordid past of the NDC founder and his wife.
Despite their unsolicited support for Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP and with nobody defending the attacks on their stewardship in office, the image of Jerry Rawlings and Nana Konadu, who was over the weekend endorsed to contest the November presidential elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Party (NDP); have become even more vulnerable than ever.
At age 68 plus, the former first couple, in spite of their pride of place in the country’s history, a political commentator observed; do not only looked confused but also seem lost at sea as they continue to embarrass not only themselves, their children and family but most importantly, the party they founded, the NDC, and its teeming followers.
Surprisingly, after entering into a so-called pact with Nana Akufo-Addo to work together to boost his (Nana’s) chances of defeating John Mahama and the NDC in the November polls, Mr. Rawlings and Nana Konadu are now unwittingly slimming the twice defeated presidential candidate’s chances following the NDP founder’s entry into the presidential race.
As part of her strategy to see an Akufo-Addo presidency, Nana Konadu early this year dispatched her micromanaged Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR) to pledge allegiance and unwavering support for the three-time NPP flag bearer.
But now that she has also openly declared her intention to contest the presidential polls hoping perhaps to throw her support behind the NPP in the event of a run-off, it is not clear who amongst the two strange political bedfellows; Nana Addo and Nana Konadu, FONKAR will campaign for.
Conversely, Mr. Rawlings, who in spite of being the founder of a governing NDC, yet has been rooting for the candidate of biggest opposition has now formally endorsed his better half, Nana Konadu to challenge his own party’s candidate, President John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP.
Meanwhile, there are reports of uneasy calm at the Ridge and Adjiriganor residences of the former first family whose shifty political stands are said to have sharply divided their household, resulting in the dismissal of some workers including security details at their residence and offices.
Sources close to the former first couple told The aL-hAJJ that aside the immediate family of Mr. Rawlings, his children are also sharply divided over the present happening in the family.
While the 2016 parliamentary candidate for the NDC in the Klottey Korle Constituency, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, and the only male son of the former first family, Kimathi Rawlings are reported keeping faith with the father’s party, the NDC, their other siblings, Amina and Yaa Asantewaa are backing their parent on their opaque political journey.
Mr. Rawlings and his two daughters, Amina and Yaa Asantewaa last Saturday stormed the NDP’s rally at the Trade Fair centre to endorse Nana Konadu while Dr. Zanetor and Kimathi were conspicuously missing in action.
Dr. Zanetor and Kimathi, sources say, are fuming over their mother; Nana Konadu’s recalcitrance which they say is affecting the chances of their medical-trained-daughter becoming a legislator.
The duo is also said to have chastised their mother for influencing their father, Mr. Rawlings to turn against his own party and now dining with members of the NPP, who once despised him and wanted not only to destroy him but have Nana Konadu jailed.
Source: aL-hAJJ
