Patrick Pharuk Bandanaa an Independent Parliamentary candidate who had aspired to be Member of Parliament for the Wa West Constituency has cited death threats on his life and on the lives of his family as the main reason he has chosen to take a break from politics and therefore wont contest in the 2020 General election.
It would be recalled that on November 24, 2016, Hon. Bandanaa and his campaign team was ambushed and assaulted on their way to Dabo, a farming community in the Wa West Constituency/District. Although Hon. Bandanaa escaped unhurt, his Security Aide, Bruno Bruttoh was injured in the forehead as a result of the exchange of gunfire.
The Police arrested some suspects weeks later, but they were released without trial. Since that incident Hon. Bandanaa and members of his family as well as some key campaign staffers have been receiving death threats through anonymous phone calls and SMS messages.
Hon. Bandanaa narrates that he, his family and members of his campaign team live in constant fear and insecurity since his attackers have not been arrested and prosecuted. “Politics is not a do or die affair. I see it as an exercise of servitude to the people: to better their lot; to lift them out of poverty and diseases. But to murder or shed someone’s blood on the altar of political power through thuggery and violence is not only an exercise in self service but very insane and demonic. Frankly, I will not be a party to such a dirty game.”
Hon. Bandanaa Patrick Pharuk polled 28.64% of the total votes against his closest rival and incumbent Hon. Joseph Yieleh-Chireh who had 41.17%.
By: Muniru Ibrahim/Radio Progress