Daniel Danquah Damptey
29 August 2008
Whoever has heard of Moshood Kashimawo Olabisi Abiola, the Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yoruba land and the one who was alleged to have won the freest election ever to have been conducted in Nigeria will, indeed agree with me that it was he [M.K.O Abiola] who used guile and deceit to get what he wanted but did not have.
The same is true with regards to the vicious propaganda being embarked upon by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to hoodwink Ghanaians into believing that what they are being told actually what happened whereas in truth, such things never happened.
THE CASE OF ABIOLA
Now back to the Abiola's story. He was working with the I. T. T. which had its Headquarters in London. Have you heard of Fela's song, titled "International Thief Thief"? Well, if you have not, it's time you obtained a copy. Go get a copy today!
I.T.T. had executed many contracts for the Federal Military Government then headed by Gen. Muritalla Mohammed. The most funny aspect of the whole show was that, in spite of the "money is not our problem. The problem is how to spend it" proclamation, the Federal Military Government was indebted to I.T.T. to the tune of millions of Naira. Abiola, who then was their representative in Nigeria had gone to Dodan Barracks, the seat of power, and created a scene when he was denied access to office of the Head of State.
There, as fate would have it, he encountered Gen. Shehu Yar-Adua, Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters. There was an altercation between the two at the end of which the soldier- turned politician found out that he had met his match in his less fancied civilian counterpart.
The long and short of it was that the Federal Government issued a cheque to cover its indebtedness. Abiola then in a celebration mood invited the African Representative of the company for a rendezvous to rejoice over the payment of the debt. The 'oyibo' man, not suspecting any foul play had come to rejoice with his African colleague over their hard-won 'victory'.
According to Abiola, he gave the white more drink than was good for him. The man had drunk to stupor. He then asked him to remove his shoes and trousers. This was soon followed by the removal of his tie, shirt and singlet until he was stripped to his pants. Mischief was at work, for Abiola had stationed a camera man at the rendezvous to take pictures of the white man in such disgraceful postures.
It was these pictures Abiola took to his overall boss in the United Kingdom. He showed them to his big'oga' in London. "These are pictures of the man you say should oversee the activities of the company in Africa. How do you expect me to report to such a person? Here is the cheque covering the total indebtedness of the Federal Government to our company. I will tear the cheque unless you sack this man and make me the representative in Africa". That was how Abiola, like the Equivocator in "Macbeth" blackmailed his immediate boss to the top.
NOW THE NDC'S MISCHIEF
This is the same role the NDC has arrogated to itself in its desperate attempts to paint the NPP administration black and sow the seed of discord amongst the teeming supporters of the Osono fraternity. You see, after the Kasoa rally where all the presidential aspirants were "outdoored", the NDC put its mischief-making machinery into operation.
They spread the false news that in some constituencies those who attended the rally had been given Gh¢10.00 each. As a result, executive members in those constituencies were inundated with persistent calls, threatening them to either pay them their monies or face the wrath of aggrieved party faithful.
Some executive members were chased out of their homes all in their attempts to retrieve their "manna" from such party executives. Others decided to quit the party altogether- all thanks to the vicious propaganda of the NDC. Their vicious campaign and propaganda did not only end there.
When Kufuor's Government announced that oil has been discovered in commercial quantities in parts of the Western Region, almost the entire leadership of the NDC took up arms against Government.
All sorts of accusations and insults flew here and there. They said emphatically that no oil had been discovered; rather it was engine oil that was taken to the Castle to show to President Kufuor.
Infact, Hon. Lee Ocran, one of the NDC Members of Parliament debunked the claim that oil had been discovered in commercial quantities. He alleged that sometime in the Seventies, the Progress Party Government under Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia came out with a similar claim that oil had been discovered in large quantities in some parts of the country - a claim which, according to the Honourable Member ultimately turned out to be untrue.
They went on to say that the claim was a ploy by the Kufuor-led government to divert attention from its dwindling popularity and failures at home. Those who dispute what I am saying should get copies of pro NDC newspapers published during the period.
But now that they have realized that the discovery is indeed true and that discerning people of Ghana has not been taken in by their false and vicious propaganda, they are attempting to beat a retreat and asking that they be given some credit for the role they played towards the eventual discovery of the oil.
In fact, the President's Press Secretary, Andrews Awuni hit the nail on the head when he said God's abundant grace was upon Kufuor and that was why the discovery occurred during his regime.
Nothing can be further from that. According to the Press Secretary, it was the same statement data which was given to all the companies that came to prospect for oil. In fact, some companies had earlier been at the exact location where the oil find did occur, but they did not discover any oil. If it is so, then it means that it was God's wish to make the discovery come during the regime of Kufuor.
The grace of God was upon President Kufuor, just as God's favour was upon Joseph and David. Why did God use Joseph to save the Israelites from starvation instead of his elder brothers? When Jesse learnt that one of his children was to be anointed King of Israel, his mind went straight to his elder sons. He never reckoned with the youngest, David.
But God had a different and special purpose for him. David eventually became King of Israel. Why did God choose Israel as a nation very dear to his heart? And if I may ask further, why did God accept the sacrifice of Abel but rejected that of Cain?
One might say it was because Cain did not bring the best of his crops, but I disagree with such a proposition. God has his own way of doing things and when they occur, we cannot question Him.
Why did the discovery not occur during the regime of Rawlings? It could have happened during his time, but God chose to delay it, probably because He felt the NDC might mismanage the windfall that would accrue from the discovery or even used the new found wealth to intimidate non party men and women.
They could also use it to bully and intimidate Ghana's immediate neighbours like Togo. We have not forgotten how a Ghanaian armoured vehicle found its way into neighbouring Togo. In all sincerity, it will not be far from the truth to say that God chose Kufuor as his instrument of bringing economic emancipation to Ghanaians.
KUFUOR THE PRESENT MOSES
Even though God decided to honour Kufuor with the oil discovery, He only made Kufuor the Moses who will take Ghanaians from the land of the Pharaohs [The regime of Rawlings and the NDC characterized by wants, deprivation, disappearances, abductions, murders, lack of respect for human life and dignity, violence, intimidation, etc] He did not make him the Joshua who would eventually take us to the Promised Land. God has bestowed that task on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
He, it is, who will complete the process. That is God's own way of doing things, for he takes from the haves and gives to the have-nots and vice versa. This is the reality of the situation ground and those who don't understand it should ask for the spiritual gift of discernment.
Do we have to give the NDC credit for any contribution towards the discovery of oil? I say a big no! We are in a political era where the syndrome of "winner takes all" prevails. If the NDC as a party will be forthright to concede that the New Patriotic Party's administration has indeed moved this country forward from the era of cowboy politics where force and intimidation reigned supreme, to the Golden Age of Ghana, then we shall be prepared to give them some credit.
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