By: Paul Mamattah
The former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu, has exploded in anger over what he describes as deliberate attempts by some elements within the party to insult former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and treat Northerners as secondhand goods.
Mr. Naabu, visibly furious, said he has observed with great concern the persistent attacks on Dr. Bawumia and his supporters simply because the former Vice President hails from the northern part of Ghana.
Speaking in an interview with the Herald Newspaper in Accra, he said such behaviour is dangerous for the unity of the party and betrays the sacrifices northerners have made for the NPP over the years.
“The NPP belongs to both Northerners and Akans. People may insult Dr. Bawumia, disgrace him, and attempt to discredit his achievements, but that will not stop him. The delegates know the truth, and they know he is the only candidate who has been well marketed,” he charged.
Recalling the journey since 2008, Bugri Naabu insisted that Dr. Bawumia played a critical role in Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s victory.
“Anybody who says Nana Addo won without Dr. Bawumia is simply a liar,” he said, pointing to the sacrifices of the late Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama, and Alhaji Short, who risked their lives to fight for the NPP’s success.
Bugri Naabu lamented that despite these sacrifices, Northerners continue to suffer neglect. He cited the abandonment of Adams Mahama’s family and his own personal ordeal as a testament to how little the party values its Northern members.
“Every day, I am insulted in the media for things I never did, including false allegations that I threatened to kill people. When the NPP won power in 2016, I was not given any appointment. Is this how loyalty is rewarded?” he fumed.
He particularly condemned aspirant flagbearers such as Kennedy Agyapong and Bryan Acheampong for their repeated insults against Dr. Bawumia.
“What has he done wrong? He has worked tirelessly and sincerely for Nana Addo to achieve his ambition. Today, the same people say he is a nobody. It is unfair and unjust,” he added.
Bugri Naabu further reminded the party of his crucial role in the Dagbon peace process, where he risked his life mediating between the Abudu and Andani families alongside President Akufo-Addo. Yet, when Dagbon peace is celebrated, his name is never mentioned.
“If the NPP abandons Dr. Bawumia, God will punish the party. The NPP will never again get a leader of his caliber or that of the late Vice President Aliu Mahama. If this continues, the NPP should count itself out of power.”
Bugri Naabu’s furious outburst underscores growing discontent among Northern members of the NPP, who say they feel sidelined and disrespected despite their sacrifices to the party’s growth and survival.