ALHAJI IDDRISU Bature, an outspoken member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), says he has a strong feeling that President Mills will say goodbye to the presidency before the 2012 elections.

“I will not be surprised at all should President Mills drop a bombshell by resigning ahead of the 2012 elections, should these calculated attempts to run him down by his own colleagues continue,” he stated.

According to the former host of popular Radio Gold programme ‘Alhaji and Alhaji’, Mills wanted to bid farewell to the country’s topmost office in the heat of biting criticisms from stalwarts in the party but was prevailed upon by Mr. Ato Ahwoi.

Bature disclosed this in an interview with Angel Fm, a Kumasi-based radio station yesterday, claiming that had it not been for the swift intervention of Ahwoi, the president would have thrown in the towel a long time ago.

“Oh, yes, it was Mr. Ahwoi who prevailed on President Mills not to quit, assuring him (the president) that his detractors will fail; if not, President Mills had decided to call it quits a long time ago,” he stressed.

He noted that President Mills was so disturbed by the incessant criticisms and verbal lashings from his own party members, notably former President Rawlings and his cronies that he wanted to resign to have his peace of mind.

Alhaji Bature pointed out that President Mills would certainly not be the sole candidate for the NDC in the forthcoming primary to elect a flag-bearer for the 2012 elections, but he could shock his party and the nation by resigning should the unfounded criticisms continue.

The former friend of the Rawlingses categorically stated that should President Mills fail to lead the NDC into the 2012 elections, Vice President John Mahama would not become the candidate of the ruling party.

Alhaji Bature indicated that the NDC would be a huge loser if President Mills did not contest the 2012 elections on the party’s ticket, stressing that President Mills, on his part, would not lose anything should he walk away from the castle.

Describing the current rumblings in the NDC as unfortunate, the NDC top gun accused some elements he described as ‘wolves’ for being the cause of troubles in the ruling party and the President Mills-led administration.

Alhaji Bature observed that had it not been for the unflinching support of Ato Ahwoi, President Mills would not have become the president.

“Let me tell you that Mr. Ahwoi single-handedly ensured that President Mills became President and not the effort of the so- called powerful persons in our party,” he noted.

Alhaji Bature disclosed that when stalwarts in the party including ex-President Rawlings were championing the replacement of then candidate Mills for the reason that he was too frail, it was Ahwoi who fought relentlessly for candidate Mills.

According to him, even then the pressure became incessant and Mills wanted to throw in the towel, Ahwoi encouraged him to continue, promising to be with him till the end.

“Look, when the agitations became unbearable, it was Mr. Ahwoi who told then candidate Mills that even if it came to the point that he has to carry him in a wheelbarrow for campaign, he (Ahwoi) was prepared to do so he should stay on,” he disclosed.

Alhaji Bature said true to his words, Ahwoi did everything humanly possible to ensure that candidate Mills made history by becoming the first former vice president to ascend the highest office of the land.

He said he finds it unfathomable that after the priceless support Ahwoi rendered to then candidate Mills, some elements in the party would want President Mills to sideline Ahwoi now that he has become president.

However, a leading member of Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (FONKAR), Dela Coffie, was not impressed by Bature’s submissions and threats of the President resigning.

According to Dela, President Mills can choose to resign “even today” if he decided but that would not be a burden on the party.

He said should he quit, the President would only be confirming assertions that he is a weak and visionless leader who does not have what it takes to provide quality leadership for the country.

According to Dela, it is only weak leaders who do not have big hearts to withstand criticisms, particularly those from his party, stressing that the party will wholeheartedly welcome his resignation if he decided to do so.