Member of Parliament for the Odododiodio constituency, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye is of the strong belief that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will likely come back to power in 24 years time.

According to him, the frequent boycott of national events by the opposition party is “setting a bad precedent” for the country’s “democracy” and drawing back the progress of the nation.

He intimated that with the behavior of the opposition NPP, it will be difficult for them to come to power and even if they do come, it will be in 24 years, adding: “even when they come it will be difficult for members of the NDC to also respect their legitimacy...Moreover, they are reneging on their parliamentary duties and I wonder if they will be able to stand in front of any minister who has been nominated by the President to demand for contracts for their constituents; especially since they said they don’t regard the legitimacy of President Mahama”.

Nii Lantey was speaking on the recent walkout staged by the minority side of parliament minutes before President Mahama walked in to present the State of the Nation’s Address.

The NPP, as can be recalled, has already taken a stand not to participate in any activity or event that will endorse the legitimacy of President Mahama due to an election petition they have filed at the Supreme Court, contesting the results of the December 2012 Presidential elections.

Contributing to discussions on Metro TV, the one-time presidential staffer said “if there are standing orders to back them (minority) then they (NDC majority) also have the power to ensure that they don’t get their way through…they should know that what they are doing is setting a bad precedence for our democracy and it is going to take our democracy back. If we also decide to use our strength as the majority to do certain things in the House, we will have chaotic a situation in the house…anyway, they are not coming into power now, they will come into power in about 24 years’ time”.

“They said they will debate the budget; was the Minister of Finance not chosen by the President? And so why are they going to debate it? The budget emanates from the vision the president presented in parliament as his state of the nation’s address and so why are they going to debate it…I think we the majority will also take certain drastic measures…I don’t think any minority member has the moral right to ask any minister of state any question on the floor of the house...,” he added.