A Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Alex Segbefia has cautioned the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) against underestimating the NPP flag-bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo. He said even though the sitting president won against Nana Akufo-Addo in the last elections, it would be suicidal to underestimate the ruling party’s political opponents. Speaking on Joy FM’s news analysis programme, Newsfile, the Deputy Chief of Staff said, the ruling party must remain united to be able to – in addition to the government’s performance – beat the NPP’s flag-bearer once more at the general elections. “Many people consider that this is possibly the last chance for him (Nana Addo), whether [they are] right or wrong, time will tell, but people do not expect that if he should lose in 2012 he will be given an opportunity again to possibly run for 2016 as their (NPP) flag-bearer. In that regard he is more dangerous than even before for the simple reason that he will be doing everything and anything to ensure that he becomes the president of this country,” he noted. Tracing what he called historical antecedents, he said the NPP flag-bearer will have an uphill task unseating president Mills because sitting presidents have not lost to opposition candidates in the country’s political history. Mr Segbefia also believes that Nana Akuf-Addo in 2012 will have lost the incumbency advantage which he enjoyed in 2008 presidential elections. He enumerated a litany of things he believes will swing the pendulum in favour of the ruling party. These he argued include the unparalleled successes chalked up in the agric sector, micro-economic stability and the Single Spine Salary pay policy currently being implemented. The Editor-In-Chief of the Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako however reminded Mr Segbefia not to be deceived by those successes into believing that the NDC will win the next elections. In his view, winning an election certainly requires more than simply modest economic successes. “Man shall not live by bread alone,” he quoted, adding “we go to elections, voting within the context of a mixed bag of issues. Oil, gas, agriculture are not the only issue,...the terrorism that has been unleashed [on Ghanaians] by NDC foot soldiers” among other issues are “critical elements” that determine the direction the electorate will go with their votes, he submitted. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana