The Minister for Works, Housing and water Resources also NPP MP for Salaga, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, has called on his supporters bidding for him to be the NPP running mate to tone down their campaign. He said it will afford him time to concentrate on the job entrusted to him by President Kufuor which is key to ensuring that the NPP secures a resounding victory in the December elections. Hon Boniface made the request in an interview with Ekourba Gyasi on Adom Dwaso Nsem on a wide range of issues bothering on the call for him to be the running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo and issues concerning his current Ministry, Works, housing and Water Resources. He said he feels honoured by the numerous calls and media reports about him being considered as a running mate to the NPP flag bearer but has no links with the people behind the calls and media reports. According to him what is of priority to him and ‘of course’ every NPP member is to drum home the achievements of President Kufuor during his tenure of office to secure the NPP a one touch victory in the December elections. Hon Boniface added that the NPP government has introduced interventions to enhance the economic development of the country and urged NPP supporters to educate the electorate. “The Government has introduced measures to build a strong and vibrant youth who would serve as future leaders it is because of this that the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) was introduced to provide jobs for the employed youth to enable them earn their living,” he added. The minister also urged NPP supporters not to be down-hearted by the inability of the Government to provide them jobs but take advantage of the various poverty reduction schemes available to enhance their economic development. Ever since the ruling New Patriotic Party elected its flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, there has been media speculations as to who he would pick as his running mate for the 2008 general election. At the last count at least eight names had cropped up and still counting. Among the names are Hon. Boniface Abubakar Saddique; Harbours and Railways Minister Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi; ECOWAS President Mohammed Ibn Chambas; Women and Children Affairs Minister Hajia Alima Mahama and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mohammed Mumuni Bawumia. Others are Lepowura M.N.D Jawula; Greater Accra Regional Minister Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye and Council of State Member and former GJA President Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie as well as Tourism and Diaspora Relations Minister, Oboshie Sai Coffie. There has been an intense and persistent lobbying for Alhaji Abubakar, to be nominated as a running mate to the NPP flag bearer. Hardly a week passes without media publications about the Salaga MP from TESCON, Moslem communities both in Accra and the northern part of the country, well meaning party individuals etc rooting for him to partner Nana Akufo-Addo. His supporters contend that since the NPP is relatively unpopular in the three northern regions and with his considerable popularity in that part of the country coupled with other factors, Alhaji Abubakar brings lot of electoral fortunes to the NPP ticket in this year's national election. As a Muslim from the zongo community, in addition to his native dialect, he is multilingual who speaks four other languages including Hausa, Twi, Ga, Nkonya, and Dagbani fluently. Credit: Kojo Addo (Adom Fm)