The General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress has called the bluff of the Minority Members of Parliament who boycotted President John Mahama’s State of the Nation address. Johnson Asiedu Nketia says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs can stay away from Parliament for as long as they like because their absence will not affect the business of government. He was commenting on the Minority’s dramatic boycott of Parliament shortly before the president gave his State of the Nation Address on Thursday. Media reports were rife with rumours that the Minority might boycott the president’s address, but after a caucus meeting on Wednesday, Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu gave the assurance that the Minority would be present. They were indeed present, but only for a short time. Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey, who was present in Parliament, reported that when the time came for the House Majority and Minority leadership to welcome the president into the chamber, the minority members stood up and walked out in unison. They did not leave without drama, brandishing signs with the word “STEALERS” boldly written on them, compelling the majority members of the House to shout “Shame!” in response. After the president’s address, Mr Asiedu Nketia told Joy News the NPP MPs move was shameless. He said the country would be governed better without them, saying that during the period when they boycotted Parliament in 1992, the country passed better laws, ones which the NPP lawyers are now carrying around town in their “armpits.” Neither did the term 'stealers' did not escape his criticism. Asiedu Nketia said the word is not found in the English dictionary and wondered how the NPP MPs, some of whom are professors, could use such an idiom. “It shows how horrible their English is,” he snapped.