Former first lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has said her husband fully endorses her bid to challenge President Mills for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC's) flag-bearership slot for elections 2012. According to her, she would not have taken the gigantic step to vie for the presidential candidacy of the NDC without former President Jerry Rawlings' blessing. Mrs Rawlings, Wednesday April 13, 2011, in a two-paragraph letter to the NDC's General Secretary and in consonance with the party's regulations, resigned her position as the 1st Vice Chairman of the party, stating the action was to "enable me respond to numerous calls on me to contest the Flagbearership of the NDC when nominations are opened." The former First Lady's action confirmed speculations close to a year ago that she was nursing presidential ambitions. Former President Jerry Rawlings has been criticized by some party executives of working to bolster his wife's chances by constantly criticising the president. They argue his vitriol against President Mills is only a mask over his real intention. At one point Mr Rawlings replied his critics saying neither he nor his wife was "interested in the Professor's job." But his wife now is. Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem Thursday - a day after declaring her intention to run for the NDC's presidential slot, Nana Konadu said her resignation from the party as the Vice Chairperson was to enable her prepare herself adequately to contest the flag-bearership when nominations are opened. It was important for the NDC to elect a unifying candidate who will bring all the factions emanating in the party together, she surmised, suggesting the president had become too polarising a figure. Commenting on the flurry of endorsements received by President Mills from some party regional executives, Nana Konadu stressed that, it was part of a grand scheme by the national executives of the party to give the President an advantage ahead of the party’s presidential primaries in July but she is undaunted. Mrs Rawlings is optimistic she can unseat President Mills to run for the presidency on the ticket of the party founded by her husband. Story by: Adwoa Gyasiwaa/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana