Tamale, Oct. 17, GNA - Alhaji Yushawu Yakubu, Interim Northern Regional Chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), has said that the party had come to unite Ghanaians and not to divide them as some political parties had done.

He accused the ruling NPP and the largest minority party the NDC, of dividing the people on religious and chieftaincy lines, saying: "This is a threat to peaceful co-existence among the people". Alhaji Yakubu was speaking in Tamale on Wednesday during the inauguration of a 15-member interim Northern Regional Executive of the party. They were later introduced to the "Founding Fathers" of the DFP in the Region.

The Interim Regional Chairman said: "The DFP is for unity and peace and this is a party for the youth to explore their potentials. DFP has come for the development of Ghanaians and all must join it". Alhaji Yakubu said he was a former Yendi constituency chairman of the NDC but had now decided to join the DFP because "both the NDC and the NPP have divided the people on chieftaincy and religious lines, a situation which has the potential of breaking up the country". He gave the assurance that the DFP would not meddle in chieftaincy or religious matters but would mobilise both human and material resources to speed up the development of the country.

Alhaji Yakubu expressed optimism that the DFP was poised to win 16 out of the 26 constituencies in the Region in the 2008 polls and urged supporters to work in unity to ensure that victory was achieved. Mr Mohammed Iddrisu, Interim Regional Organiser, said the party had gained grounds in the communities within its short existence, adding: "This is an indication that the DFP will pull a surprise in the 2008 general election".

The Interim Regional Women's Organiser, Madam Fati Iddrisu, urged women to rally around the DFP, saying: "This is the only party that will champion our cause".