Mr Allotey Jacobs, Central Regional Communications Director of the ruling National Democratic Congress, has stated that Ivory Coast president-elect Alassane Ouattara is not yet destined to be president of the country. Mr Ouattara was declared winner of the November elections - though incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo refuses to cede power - which has since left the country in a political stalemate instead of bringing the nation peace as initially hoped. The United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) support Ouattara and have on several occasions called on Gbagbo to step down – a request he has refused. On Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Wednesday, Mr Alottey Jacobs who was contributing to discussion on the Ivorian stalemate stated that looking at the circumstances surrounding Mr Ouattara’s candidacy it would be hard for the Ivorian people to accept him as president now. He questioned why the international community has refused to look at issues raised by Laurent Gbagbo as part of processes to finding a better resolution to the crisis. Mr Jacobs said he was surprised that AU envoy Raila Odinga has not been able to tell Ouattara the truth that it is not yet time for him to be President since he [Odinga] has experienced a similar circumstance and has a better understanding of it. He said the best advice Odinga could have given Ouattara should have been that he should exercise patience till it got to his turn just as he [Odinga] is waiting for his turn. Raila Odinga was the main opposition candidate in the 2007 disputed elections in Kenya which resulted in the deaths of 1500 people and the displacement of many. Despite his claims of victory after the elections, incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was sworn in as president. An exit poll commissioned by the United States later revealed that Odinga won the election but he was impressed upon to form a unity government with the incumbent. Odinga consequently became the Prime Minister in 2008. He was named by the African Union as a mediator in the ongoing political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire. Story by Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana