Halidu Haruna tries to apologise: Says comment was publicity stunt
This is a Wednesday Special edition of the Inside the News by Mpakoo. Hope you enjoy it.
Alhaji Halidu Haruna, the NDC man who got into trouble for saying female celebrities who criticise the government are prostitutes, has made an only-partially successful attempt at an apology.
In an interview on Citi FM, the embattled former aide to the Chief of Staff, said that he still stands by his comments, but that he feels compelled to apologise because ‘I am a human being. People are not happy about what I said so I want to say I’m sorry. But I still stand by my words.’
He has, however, revealed that he harbours no ill-feelings against either Yvonne Nelson or Lydia Forson who he attacked in his abusive Facebook post. He said the whole scheme was a publicity strategy meant to heighten his visibility ahead of the NDC parliamentary primaries. ‘My brother,’ he told the interviewer, giggling sheepishly, ‘Do you know that I’m running for the Ablekuma Central seat? I’m sure you didn’t know. But now you know!’
He seemed very pleased with his accomplishment. ‘At least, I’ve apologised,’ he said boastfully, ‘and that proves that I am a real man!’ He challenged his rival aspirants to try what he did ‘if they think they’re men enough!’ He continued, ‘Now I’m a household name in Ghana. My chances of winning the primaries are good.’
He repeated that his sole purpose for attacking the actresses was to help him achieve this new-found fame.
He stressed that his intentions were pure, unlike his other partners in crime. ‘Please, if anybody should be attacked, then it should be either Dela Coffie or Agyenim Boateng,’ he said, ‘because, as for them, they just insulted the ladies just like that, no reason.’
Editor’s note: The ‘Inside the News by Mpakoo’ column, which appears every Monday exclusively on ghanabusinessnews.com is satire.