Lawyer Edudzi Tamaklo writes…
Hon HARUNA Iddrisu and the politics of the North
Many years ago, on the University of Ghana campus, there was this very popular political program named, Legon Speaks.
It was hosted at Legon Hall of the University of Ghana.
My first encounter with the dynamite, Lawyer Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South. It was in the turbulent days of President Kuffour’s administration.
This young MP was all over the place opposing Mr Kuffour.
As a University student, it was a great delight watching him at the Legon Speaks against leading NPP politicians.
Then came my involvement in NDC national politics and my direct association with him.
Like every human leader, he had his own failings but overall, he was a good politician.
When NDC was in power from 2009 to 2013, I was basically in law school and doing my politics predominantly within the Dome Kwabenya constituency.
I didn’t get to interact with him more until in 2017, when the NDC went into opposition.
Hon Haruna Iddrisu eventually became the leader of the opposition NDC caucus in Parliament. My engagements with him started from that period till now.*
With admirable courage, he stabilized the front of the Minority Caucus and started subjecting the Akufo Addo administration to the fire of accountability and probity.
He fought Speaker Mike Ocquaye even with Minority MPs of 106.
In 2020, I had a call to represent some NDC interest in Northern region, precisely at the Zabzugu constituency during the voter registration exercise.
I had to do Accra-Tamale-Accra on a few occasions.
I was going to the High Court in Tamale to challenge some voter registration infractions.
In the course of doing this case, I was working closely with the Regional Secretary, Salam.
During this period, I encountered the real influence of the political colossus, Lawyer Aduna.
He had enormous influence in shaping the politics of the NDC up north.
I can without any equivocation detail how he single-handedly ensured that the NDC recovered the Savelugu seat.
His efforts in ensuring we came out of the 2020 election with 9 seats.
The NPP adopted the strategy of sending very resourceful CEOs and deputy ministers to some constituencies.
Even with their resources, Lawyer Aduna matched them boot for boot.*
Quite painful, we lost Gushegu and Karaga.
I recall after the 2020 election, the NPP filed election petitions in Krachi West, Savelugu, Jomoro, Assin North among others.
I was assigned the Jomoro and Krachi West petitions to defend.
At every point, he will call to find out the progress of work on those petitions.
Well, I successfully defended the two seats.
Meeting him at the program organized by JM at UPSA, he wanted to know my honest opinion on the Jomoro seat.
I assured him with the legal strategies deployed, we will retain the seat.
He was visibly excited at the prospect.
I am praying to Allah to calm him and for him to put everything behind him.
That he will continue to hold the North for H.E John Mahama.
So JM can get the time to focus on the other parts of the country. We need to prosecute multi pronged campaign.
Lawyer Aduna with the support of the regional and constituency executives, obtain maximum votes for President Mahama and more parliamentary seats for the NDC.
I am excited with the interventions from President John Mahama in this reshuffle impasse.
Lawyer Aduna is a game changer in the North.
With this said, we must rally around the leadership of Hon Cassiel Ato Forson to move the Minority Caucus to another level in our forward match to win the presidency in 2024.
We make peace with our enemies, not our friends.
We have one task ahead of us.
Rescue this beautiful country from the misleader, Mr Akufo Addo and his political experiment, Dr BAWUMIA.
Long live NDC.
Aluta continua, victoria ascerta
