The family of the late Alhaji Bature says they are “extremely scandalized by the inexorable attempts” by some politicians using the death of Alhaji Bature to settle political scores warning such persons to stop playing political games with their beloved.
“We have lost a national hero, and the best we can do to preserve his legacy and memory is to pray for his soul to rest in peace,” a statement by the family said.
Some politicians including Dela Coffie, a vocal member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), condemned former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over “lack of empathy” for the late Alhaji Bature.
The main opposition NDC, which the late journalist was a member organised its 5th Unity Walk at Techiman which was led by former President John Dramani Mahama in the Brong Ahafo region on the same day of the burial of the NDC activist.
But critics say, the situation exposed lack of sympathy for the dead from his[late Bature] own folks in politics.
The family reacting to the barrage of attacks against the NDC and former President Mahama said:”While we acknowledge the inherent rights of any person or group of persons to criticize the former President, we strongly object to crafty attempts to use the death of our late brother as fertile political grounds to sow seeds of political profiteering.”
They further noted the Mahama’s came to the rescue of their late brother at the time he needed them most and the best way to reciprocate is to appreciate their kind gesture and nothing else.
“The contributions of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama; his brother, Mr Ibrahim Mahama and the Mahama family in general, from the day the late Alhaji Bature Iddrisu was admitted at the hospital, to the time of his death and its aftermath, are too great a virtue for the Iddrisu family to gloss over.
“We don’t have the authority of the Mahama family to make public their contributions to Alhaji Bature prior to his death, but if there was any creature on earth who took special interest in the upkeep of him while on admission at the hospital, it was the Mahama family.
“For the records, the former President was in touch with us while in Techiman, and indeed joined the Muslim community in Techiman zongo to observe jannaiza prayers prior to the burial of Alhaji Bature. A minute of silence was observed during the Unity Walk in Techiman in memory of the fallen Hero. The former President sent entourage led by Alhaji Collins Dauda and other NDC stalwarts to represent him at the burial ceremony due to his absence as a result of circumstances beyond his control.
“It is awfully shocking that persons who never checked up on Alhaji Bature while on his sick bed and never showed up for his burial rites or called to check up on arrangements, are the ones demonizing those who singlehandedly stood by him in times of difficulty.”
The late Editor of the Al-Hajj newspaper who was a strong supporter of the opposition NDC died at the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital following a short illness.
