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It is emerging that protests, threats of potential chaos and attempts to pitch the Executive against the Judiciary is a calculated agenda by the New Patriotic Party, NPP.

Lawyers affiliated to the party, individuals and few institutions with sympathies towards the main opposition party are uncomfortable because of the potential threat to their 2016 campaign if the trio are released.

Salifu Maase, Host of Montie FM Pampaso programme, Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Tairo Nelson all avowed critics of Nana Akufo Addo were jailed four months last week by the Supreme Court for contempt in addition to a fine of 10,000 cedis each.

The Court’s judgment, which was clear that the sentencing was not based on threats against the Judiciary confirmed reports that some media houses and social commentators skewed reportage to incite the bench and also to court public opinion against the trio.

Many have since described the punishment as very harsh.  Within a week, Counsel for the convicts led by the Research and Advocacy Group, RAP gathered over 100,000 signatures in a petition seeking a Presidential pardon under Article 72 of the Constitution.

But the NPP and its surrogates are crying foul. They are jumping from one radio station to the other issuing threats of possible mayhem should the President exercise his powers under Article 72 of the constitution. Others have also warned the President of the political ramifications to his re-election bid.

Others have resorted to social media with malicious posts intended to influence public opinion against those seeking the President’s intervention.

What is perhaps exposing the diabolical agenda against the jailed radio host and his two accomplices is the new twist to the issue. A campaign dubbed 'Stand with Chief Justice Wood'.  A message on social media with hash tag #StandWithHerLadyshipGeorginaWood, has created the impression the Chief Justice is under attack.

A group calling itself the Women of Faith and Substance is also demanding the resignation of Minister for Women, Gender and Social protection to resign. The focus on Nana Oye Lithur alone is strange particularly because they are not demanding same for Education Minister, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang and Tourism Minister Elizabeth Ofodu-Adjare, Senior Presidential Advisor, Valerie Sawyer, former Transport Minister Dzifa Attivor and other female government appointees for signing the petition.

The NPP has also publicly launched attacks on all those who signed the petition. Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rt. Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey who has sympathies towards the NPP for example described them as nation wreckers while former President of the Ghana Bar Association, Sam Okudzeto has said President Mahama will be planning his own funeral if he pardons the suspects.

Others like Franklyn Cudjoe of IMANI Ghana have said the gentlemen should rot in jail, John Ndebugre another NPP member has described the sentence as lenient and many others are jubilating the Montie 3 are behind bars.

The position of the NPP and those advising the President against the petition are obviously of partisan interest. The NPP simply cannot stand the impact of Montie FM’s PAMPASO programme and are scheming to ensure the host does not return soon.

Such parochial interest cannot and should not determine how the President in consultation with the Council of State respond to the petition. The of framers of the 1992 Constitution saw the wisdom in the Article 72 which equally said the President in consultation with the Council of State could exercise his prerogative power of mercy on any convicted person.

Even then the NPP wants to tie the hands of the Council of State. Nana Asante Bediatuo, a die-hard Nana Akufo Addo loyalists and one of the ‘Akyem Mafias’ told an Accra based radio station he doubts the President will even listen to advice.

President Mahama’s authority cannot be taken for granted. He must not allow the position to determine how he governs or operates. The same NPP which has described John Mahama as incompetent should feel free if they strongly believe he will fail in any decision he takes.

Just us Justice Sophia Akufo said even the President cannot control the Judiciary, so must we agree that the Executive cannot be controlled by the opposition, or any other constitutional body. That is why there is separation of powers so he can be taken on if he errs.

John Mahama is a politician, an astute one of course, has a team of advisors including lawyers who will give him good Counsel. If the NPP’s prayer is for the Montie 3 to remain in jail is right for their political advantage, then the NDC and those seeking their pardon are equally justified provided their request is within the ambits of the constitution.

The Montie 3 Saga has really exposed a lot of things. Hypocricy, double standards, mischief on the part of some key journalists including those with legal backgrounds seeking to crucify their colleague because of their own interests and those who merely follow the crowd without paying critical attention, like a moderator of a renowned church who uses ‘nation wrecker against fellow citizens without recourse to the substance of the case.

Emotions don’t win arguments. Wisdom plays critical roles. Ghana is at cross roads and President Mahama must weigh the issues and take a decision that will protect the rights of all, correct what many have described as unfairness on the part of the Supreme Court which in this case acted as complainant, a prosecutor and an adjudicator.

That was strongly captured in an article authored by Dr Arthur Kennedy, an outlawed member of the NPP.

I full support a reprieve for the Montie 3. After all they have apologized, shown remorse, paid the GHC10,000  fine each and will go down in history as ex-convicts. NPP hasn’t stopped the insults and will not stop now. Why should it’s advice be taken seriously. Let's pause and ask:  WILL REMISSION OF THE  SENTENCES OF THE MONTIE 3 SATISFY ALL PARTIES? THINK ABOUT IT.