NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Lambussie Constituency, Dr. Titus Beyuo, says while he did not face detractors working against him from within the party, the tribal card was played against him.
He noted that his tribe and origin as well as some fabrications were being turned into weapons to undermine his bid to lead the NDC in the Lambussie constituency.
According to him, what worked in his favour were his youthfulness and his message which resonated with the youth who went on to champion his cause.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he said, “I faced peculiar situations in my area because there were tribal issues where people wanted to play the tribal card and therefore they assassinate your character.
“And Evans, if there’s a lesson I’ve learnt, I just told my colleagues my next medical lecture I’ll tell my medical students instead of doing a DNA test, if you really want to know your parents, your paternity or stuff, just pick up a political party card and attempt to contest for a position and your history will be traced to you, both the truth and the lies.
“You know people fabricated all sort of things against me that were not real, but the critical thing is to focus. Do you have message to deliver? Yes. What was our message? Advocacy is lacking, I am coming from a district that is very deprived, that is not getting its share of the national cake, and what is needed there is a strong leader, one with a capacity to do proper representation, one with the capacity to advocate for development in the area. And I think my constituents bought this over tribal sentiments.”
He said it was about time people looked beyond tribal sentiments and other related factors and instead focused on the competencies and message of those seeking to lead them in politics.
According to Dr. Beyuo, his constituents analysed his message and capabilities and deemed his more resonant with their needs thus his victory.
“If there is a lesson I’ve learnt from this, it is that politicians must begin to realise as His Excellency John Dramani Mahama stated, the delegates are the kingmakers, and they appreciate and know what is good, and they know what they want.
“The era where you just attack someone’s character and their personality and use that to get votes is long past. They’re sifting between the messages they receive, they ananlyse it, you see people who are not educated to a very high level but they understand the issues more than one would expect and that is what I encountered here,” he said.