A former People’s National Convention (PNC) MP for Zebila, John Ndebugri, has tagged President John Mills as a “certified lazy man”.
The PNC man, who crossed carpet to join the NPP after the 2008 election, was reacting to what appeared to be a mockery of NPP members by Mr Kofi Adams, deputy General Secretary of the NDC, following some controversial statements made by one of the party’s member, against the NPP’s presidential aspirants.
President John Evans Atta Mills
Speaking on Citi FM’s Saturday talk show ‘‘Big Issues’’ on May 22, Mr Ndebugri took a swipe at Mr Kwame Pianim for the comments he made which has been described by some leading members of his party as “unsavory and irresponsible”.
According to Mr Ndebugri, the NPP is a democratic party hence the many criticisms from party members over the controversial remarks.
He stated that unlike other parties, referring to the NDC, the NPP has respect for democracy.
“Unlike other parties that are owned, when the owner speaks, it becomes taboo.
When the owner says you are a bastard, even the person called bastard, will say that I am happy that he called me bastard.
Mr Ndebugri said even though Mr Pianim’s concern about the party electing a competent leader and not just a flagbearer was appropriate, it was erroneous for him to have used the word ‘idiot’.
He, however, said that in his thoughts, the statement was not referring to any of the aspirants, but was referring to the concept of “flagbearer” in the Ghanaian politics instead of leaders.
“The use of the word idiot was unnecessary. I know Mr Kwame Pianim very well.
And I think one of his characters is that, he is overly informal, look at his manner of dressing, Look at the way he carries himself and even in his speech. That is why he went about using that word, ‘‘idiot’’. I am sure he will regret using those words,” he stated.
But Mr Ndebugri noted that the comments on corruption and incompetence against the other aspirants were most untoward.
He became furious when Mr. Adams used the word ‘‘lazy’’ to describe some members of the NPP as he (Mr. Ndebugri) delivered his submissions on the programme.
He then halted his submission and said, “In fact, If Kwame Pianim is complaining about laziness, he should go straight to the castle and complain today, because the laziest man is sitting there. The President, the certified lazy man is sitting there. Because his predecessor himself said he is lazy.
Rawlings said the man is slow and now I don’t even know what to say now. If you are slow, and you are supposed to be active, what are you? You are lazy. The man has said it many times to the point that he was so exasperated that, he now said he doesn’t know what to say again. I have the right to explain slow, as being lazy and lazy as being slow. And he himself said I am slow but sure, meaning I am lazy but sure,” he noted.
But Mr Kofi Adams rubbished Mr Ndebugri’s claims and name-callings of President Mills, and insisted that Mr Pianim’s statements reflected the real situation on the ground.
“If you take Mr Kwame Pianim’s tape and assemble average JSS students, and not even the brilliant ones, they can tell you who the lazy ones are and are seeking to be appointed by whomever they are associating with.
Mr Ndebugri is only trying to colour what Mr Pianim said making it look as if he did not mean what he said.
He denied the assertion that Mr Rawlings had touted President Mills as slow and said Ghanaians were convinced that the President is not a lazy man.
He added that Mr Rawlings was only concerned about some areas of governance that were moving slowly.
“I strongly reject the description of the president of this republic as a lazy man. That I will not take kindly to it. Yes there are some actions that need to be taken so that we all laugh to the Better Ghana agenda.
Mr Kofi Adams who appeared enraged by Mr Ndebugri’s description of President Mills as a lazy man, replied by constantly describing his political opponents, as ‘‘idiots and lazy’’ just as they were described by one of their own.