Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, says the Minority Leader is not yet ready to vie for the presidential slot of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking on Joy FM/MultiTV’s news analysis programme Newsfile Saturday, he said although Haruna Iddrisu is a “fantastic gentleman” he has to wait for the right time.
“I like him a lot, I think he will do well. He speaks well although sometimes with propaganda but that is understandable,” he said.
He added that being Minority Leader at his age is a big achievement which makes a big statement about how fast he has risen.
Former President Mahama is certain to run for the nomination of the NDC although some family members are said to be against that decision.
The NDC with president John Mahama lost the 2016 election to the then opposition New Patriotic Party led by Nana Akufo-Addo who is now the president.
Mr. Mahama was seeking his second term in office, even though it would have been the party’s third term in office if he had won the December 2016 elections.
This means the former president still has the chance to return as the leader of the NDC in 2020 when the country goes to the polls.
However, there are a number of potential candidates who have not made public their ambitions but have supporters and identifiable groups within the party subtly campaigning for them.
Former Trades Minister Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, former NHIA boss, Sylvester Mensah and Prof Joshua Alabi’s names have all come up as possible NDC flagbearer contenders.
The former Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo believes the Minority Leader has better credentials to lead the NDC in the next elections.
In a recent interview with Joy News he said if he were a woman, he would have married him without blinking an eye.
He touted Mr Iddrisu’s eloquence and leadership style as some of the qualities that have endeared the Tamale South MP to him.
Mr Iddrisu has yet to make public his presidential ambitions even though sources close to him have confirmed to Myjoyonline.com the Minority Leader’s ambition to lead the party is not in doubt.
Mr Baako said “I don’t think he is ready made presidential material. He needs to groom himself and grow.”
He said timing is important if the former Communications Minister is to be the number gentleman of Ghana.
He believes the one-time Employment Minister is likely to fail if he makes the move too early as the “timing is not good for him, otherwise, he is a great potential.”
The senior journalist said the names coming up are people who have paid their dues to the party having served both the party and the nation.
According to him Alban Bagbin and Spio-Garbrah are nice gentlemen who are formidable contestants.
Other names, he insisted have only been mentioned for comic relief.
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