The cracks in the Northern Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) became manifest in Tamale over the weekend, with scores of party hooligans attacking and injuring some party executives. Among the injured were the Regional Secretary, Sualisu Be-Awuribe, and Treasurer, Kassim.
Information available to The Chronicle indicates that Sualisu Be-Awuribe allegedly issued a letter inviting members of Parliament, constituency representatives and functional executive committee members in the region to a meeting in Tamale without the knowledge and consent of Alhaji Mobila, the Regional Chairman of the party.
To ensure that there was peace before, during and after the meeting, the Regional Secretary shifted the venue of the meeting to the Global Dream Hotel.
But to prove that he is the Regional Chairman, Alhaji Mobila called for the cancellation of the meeting, which was not adhered to by his subordinates.
A letter he sent to the members connected with the meeting, and dated November 1, 2018, reads:
“RE: Invitation to the Regional Executive Committee meeting.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported invitation letter sent to Members of Parliament, Constituency representatives and Regional Functional Executive committee members inviting them to a meeting in Tamale.
“I want to state emphatically that pursuant to article 25 (5) of the Party Constitution, as a leader of the Party in this region, and acting within the constitution, I have not directed the Regional Secretary or received any request from members of REC for any meeting whatsoever. The Regional Secretary acted capriciously and without recourse to laid down procedure in convening an Extended Regional Executive Committee meeting.
“I am, by this letter, entreating all Constituency Chairmen and their assigns not to attend such illegal meeting, which will amount to gross insubordination towards my authority, as your elected Regional Chairman”
Despite this warning, the organisers went ahead to organise the meeting, and this resulted in the riot and subsequent injury to some of the party executives.
Al-Qaeda and Aljazeera, both vigilante groups, which unconfirmed reports say support the Regional Chairman, descended on the venue and attacked the Regional Secretary, injuring him in the process.
The development forced another vigilante group, Aluta Boys, to also march to the office of the Regional Chairman and vandalise it.
So far, the National Secretariat of the party has not commented on the issue, but The Chronicle has gathered from credible sources that the issue would be reported to the police today.
Meanwhile, a statement issued on Saturday by James Agyenim-Boateng, Spokesperson of the John Mahama campaign team, states that former President John Dramani Mahama has urged the rank and file of the party in the region to remain calm and resort to dialogue to resolve any misunderstanding.
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