THE UNIFIER HITS ROAD

HE IS referred to as the UNIFIER, who is able to put the pieces together for the good of his party and the country as a whole.

So far he has embarked on what political pundits describe as the most cultured, decent and digital campaign among the about 19 aspiring flagbearers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Tomorrow, 1st November 2007, baring any last minute hitch, Hon. Felix Owusu-Adjapong files his nomination papers at the NPP headquarters to seal his intention to lead the NPP into the upcoming December 2008 general elections.

According to the immediate past Parliamentary Affairs Minister, he represents that true party man gifted with the appeal to influence swinging votes that his party needs most to convincingly retain the Presidency and the majority in Parliament for the NPP come December 2008.

Even though almost all the major opinion polls so far made public does not mention Honourable Owusu-Adjapong as a major contender, he has already predicted a first-round victory at the NPP?s December 22nd Congress claiming over 1,900 votes in his kitty in advance.

As a dark horse in the flagbearership race, he is set to cause an upset that may shock all.

However, he says he has been cautioned by the would-be delegates of the party?s upcoming Congress not to commit any more blunder lest he forfeits their votes.

As a result, he asserts he is cocksure that he is that true party man who will emerge victorious to lead his party into yet another victory to continue, what he terms, the good works of the Kufuor-led NPP administration.

According to the former Majority Leader, there have been a number of times that his party was on the verge of breaking up, but through his initiatives and efforts and of course, coupled with the support of other members, the party was saved from falling apart.

He therefore strongly believes that he has the wits, capability and the know-how to lead the NPP to win the 2008 elections and beyond that, continue to transform the economy of the country for the betterment of the people of this country.

The MP for Akyem Swedru says after widely consulting and re-consulting ?friends, advisors and associates and in fact owners and major shareholders of the NPP?, he is now more than convinced that come December 22, 2007, the party?s delegates will give him the mandate to lead the NPP into the December 2008 elections.

He has therefore reminded the polling station executives of the party that the 2008 election would not be an easy one and that there was the need for the NPP to intensify their educational campaign in the communities to win more supporters for the party.

Honourable Owusu-Adjapong has mentioned four qualities that one needs in order to successfully lead the NPP to retain power.

He says the qualities are; a good party man/woman; a good party person who can unite the party and eventually the country; a good party person who is even liked by people referred to as floating voters or marginals of the other political parties; and a good party person with reasonable qualification and experience to lead the Party and Ghana.

?I have presented these facts to the owners and major shareholders of the party at the Regional and Constituency levels and they have all endorsed them?, he claims, affirming that, ?I have examined myself and I am convinced that I have all these qualities.?

Dwelling more on his qualification and capability to lead the party to retain power, he says he has been with the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition even before his days at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) to date and have played major roles in bringing the aspirations and beliefs of the tradition to the people and therefore urges his party people to elect him to lead it to the now being-built Flagstaff House Presidential Complex in January 2009.

?My appeal to members of our party is to choose someone who embodies the best this party has to offer, to lead us. And that person is Felix Kwasi Owusu-Adjapong. Felix Kwasi Owusu-Adjapong understands the ideals of quality leadership; he understands the ideals of community, the ideals of faith, ideals of hard work, ideals of commitment, and ideals of service. This is because Felix Kwasi Owusu-Adjapong?s life has been defined by these concepts?, he asserts.

He also says he has taken practical steps to advance the unity of the NPP, especially when the party is at a cross roads.

A typical reference, he noted, was the famous meeting he says he organised for the party in Elmina and Cape Coast to enable the party to iron out the differences among aspirants for the party leadership and those for the presidential candidacy in 1998.

He notes he has adopted what he termed, a CCD approach to his campaign which he explains to mean Customary; Civil; and Digital.

Honourable Felix Owusu-Adjapong says; ?I shall be Customary; Civil and Digital?