Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has alleged that some members of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are conniving with some other persons close to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to pitch him against the President, Nana Akufo-Addo and the leadership of the party.
Speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam program Tuesday, Mr. Agyapong cited similar instances where he had been misquoted by persons he suspects are in the NPP.
Such persons according to him, made insinuations to the effect that he wanted all NPP loyalists to reject Akufo-Addo’s appointees.
A repeat of that instance he said, is what is happening now where malicious persons are trying to create tension between the Asantehene and the President.
“From the way people are acting, it may be someone else tomorrow, and we need to speak to these issues. They put it on their social media platform claiming that I have said they should vote against anyone who Akufo-Addo has appointed……I was shown the write-up from social media and I can tell you, it wasn’t an NDC member who wrote that. They are sowing a bad seed,” he noted.
He added, “It is the same thing that happened in Otumfuo’s case. I saw a video with the claims about Akyems not respecting Ashantis and wanting power. If that’s the case, why won’t you base on Ofori Atta’s era in Kyebi or JB Danquah’s era, why use Akufo-Addo’s father’s era? We can’t live in a nation like that, it won’t help us…….It is dangerous and they are succeeding and we have to stop this.”
He advised the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to be wary of persons around him who may want to create enmity between himself and the leadership of the NPP just to satisfy their selfish interests.
“In the Asantehene’s palace, I must make it clear to him that he won’t get everyone to fully support him. All of them have their political interest. He should be careful. Not all those he works with are 100 percent NPP or NDC. ……I’m saying that there are some elements in the NPP that are doing that,” the Assin Central legislator stressed.
“For some people, it should never be anyone else if it is not them. With all due respect, Nana, please be careful of those who come and talk to you because they know the relationship between you and Akufo Addo and may work with some bad nuts in NPP to destroy the Asantehene and the president,” he cautioned.
He however pleaded that the King of the Ashanti Kingdom tamper justice with mercy and overlook the issue.
“We are pleading with Otumfuo to have patience and be careful. He should remember that much as he is angry, most of his loyalists belong to the NPP so we plead that he doesn’t allow the devil succeed,” Mr. Agyapong begged.
Background
There were media reports suggesting that the Asantehene was angry because of claims that some persons close to the government are attempting to pitch him [Otumfuo] against the Akyem tribe [in the Eastern Region].
The reports claimed that John Boadu, who is contesting for the substantive General Secretary position of the NPP, had gone to the Manhyia Palace last to seek Otumfuo’s blessing when the incident occurred.
According to Mr. Boadu, he was accompanied by the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and a host of other NPP stalwarts.
Dr. Nana Agyenim Boateng, President of the Concerned Youth of Ashanti, following the reports accused former Director of the Danquah Institute and the Executive Secretary to the President, Asante Bediatuo of speaking ill and undermining the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
According to Dr. Agyenim Boateng, all the negative things being said about the Asantehene by the two individuals have contributed to the Monarch’s anger.
Gabby Otchere Darko has since dismissed the allegations, indicating that he is not ‘stupid’ so much so that he would work against his own interest and incite his mother’s people (Akyems) against his father’s people (Asantes).
President Akufo-Addo and some NPP ‘bigwigs’, since the incident, have visited the Asantehene at his Manhyia palace to plead and have discussions with him.
