During a recent campaign tour by New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Chairman of the Bono Regional Council of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, advocated for the selection of a Bono native as the running mate for the ruling party.

The Dormaahene expressed concern that a strong push for a running mate from a specific region could potentially alienate voters from other regions and undermine the NPP's electoral prospects.

He implored Dr. Bawumia to consider candidates from the Bono area, which he noted is abundant with potential candidates worthy of the position.

He mentioned the likes of Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, MP for Techiman South; Ignatius Barfour Awuah, MP for Sunyani West; Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Dormaa Central MP; Mahama Afful, former MP for Jaman South; and Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC), Bono Regional Chairman of the NPP, as worthy candidates who are also natives of the Bono area.

"Bono Region is also deserving; I am not saying that the others mentioned from other regions are not deserving, but I am also seeking the good of my own.

"I have seen some of the Bonos following you here today; Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, are you not here? Is he not a subject of Techimanhene? He is worthy of the post.

"How would I say it and leave out Ignatius Baffour Awuah? I attended school with him, and I have never heard anything bad about that man sitting there. He does everything to perfection...

"Mr. Vice President, Ignatius Baffour Awuah is also worthy of being your candidate. It might even get to a time when I will also dress up and join his campaign.

"There is also one of my subjects called Kwaku Agyemang-Manu; he is also deserving of the post. I have not mentioned the name of Mahama Afful. He is here, and if he is given the position, he will definitely bring me some of the development in Dormaa Ahenkro.

"The point I am making is that the person you will choose as your running mate, we in the Bono Region and to the extent Bono East, have an interest in it. We also want our people to be mentioned.

"If you settle Abronye (Kwame Baffoe), he will never turn his back on me. So we are pleading with you to extend your search. We will understand you if others are chosen, but we will appreciate you the more if one of ours is settled upon," he averred.

With some seven months left until the 2024 general elections, Vice President Bawumia kicked off his official campaign late last month.

However, he has yet to name a running mate for the election.

Several names have surfaced, with a strong case being made for a candidate to be selected from the Ashanti Region, which is the party's stronghold.

Nonetheless, some critics believe the search for the party's running mate should transcend regional and ethnic factors.

Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Agyemang Badu II has called on the Flagbearer of the NPP to select his running mate from either the Bono or Bono East Region, rather than exclusively from one specific region as has been the tradition.

He threatened that they would vote against… pic.twitter.com/0PI6kiOqvA

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