The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Tain, Ahmed Ibrahim, has called on the party�s Eastern Regional Constituency executives to render an unqualified apology to the Okyehene for making unsavoury comments about his visit to the presidency.
He said the implication of the hard-line position taken by the ruling party�s constituency executives could be detrimental to the party�s future electoral fortunes in the region.
Ahmed Ibrahim was reacting to criticisms of the Okyehene following his visit to the presidency to congratulate President Mahama at the Flagstaff House, Tuesday.
Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori-Panyin, who is also President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, appealed to all parties in the ongoing election petition at the Supreme Court to accept the verdict.
But the NDC Eastern Regional executives have expressed grave displeasure about the call, describing the Okyehene�s visit as �politically sponsored�.
The executives said the paramount chief should have used the occasion to apologise to President Mahama for the acts of violence which greeted him in the run-up to the 2012 election in Kyebi.
But Ahmed Ibrahim on Asempa FM�s Ekosii Sen programme Friday said two wrongs do not make a right; so his party men should apologise to the Okyehene.
According to him, the role of chiefs in our national discourse cannot be underestimated; therefore it is very important for politicians to accord them the needed respect.
�Political positions are dynamic but when someone is installed a chief it is static so politicians must maintain a cordial relationship with our chiefs, who play key roles in nation building,� he bemoaned.
Ahmed Ibrahim intimated that even if the Okyehene erred in making that pronouncement, the NDC executives as subjects in the region are not justified to attack him.
The Tain MP said the NDC over the years has built a good reputation in the Eastern Region, therefore the party must not allow this petty issue to mar it relationship with Okyeman.
�Gone were the days when people peel off NDC postures in the Eastern Region; even in the just-ended general election, the NDC performed well in the region, which is very good for the party,� he added.
Ahmed Ibrahim also urged the Eastern Regional Minister, Julius Debrah, to as a matter of urgency go to the Okyehene and apologise on behalf of his party members and put matters to rest.
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