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FOLLOWING THE death of former President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday, the Chairman of a pressure group called the Eagle Eye, has expressed his condolences to the First Lady, Ernestina Naadu Mills, the family of the late President as well as the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Stephen Atubiga however warned that if the selection of a new vice president for the nation was not managed well, it could further widen the cracks in the ruling party and possibly affect its chances in the December general elections. Mr. Atubiga who once contested the NDC primaries in the Binduri constituency in the Upper East region told DAILY GUIDE, �the party should not behave like the proverbial ostrich. There are problems in the party and one of the solutions is including people who feel neglected and sidelined.� He feels people like Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings not only qualify for the position but the selection of either of them could be the link to reaching party members who feel neglected. �This is not the time for Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and other party communication team members to heap insults on former President Rawlings and his wife or try to further exclude them from party activities. I look forward to the announcement that President John Mahama has been selected by the NDC to replace Professor Mills as the party�s candidate for the December presidential election,� he added. According to him, the vacuum created in the NDC was a test for the ruling party and people were waiting to see if the party would endorse President John Mahama to replace Professor Mills as its flag bearer. He told the paper that if the party failed to do this, it would confirm claims across the Northern regions that the party leadership sees Northerners as only being fit for the running mate position. �They better take advantage of the fact that John Mahama has already been marketed and he�s the current President of Ghana,� he advised. Mr. Atubiga further called on the NDC national leadership to reach out to people who lost in the various constituency primaries and bring them on board campaign teams in the various constituencies in the Upper East region. He said despite calls on the NDC regional executives to do this they have refused and keep showing signs of contempt and complacency five months to the general elections.