History, they say repeats itself and Haruna Iddrisu of all people should have seen this coming.
In 2017, despite senior colleagues including Alban Sumana Bagbin, Cletus Avoka, and Collins Dauda, he was appointed Minority Leader and grew into the position over the last six years.
President Nana Akufo-Addo even had words of commendation for his steady rise and astuteness as a politician with great potential.
But his tenure wasn’t going to be in perpetuity though agreeably unprecedented how it came to an end.
The fifth-term Member of Parliament was nominated Minority Leader just two years older than the age his successor takes over at age 46 years.
There are concerns the sweeping change in the Minority Caucus in Parliament could cause a nonchalant attitude, especially from the ousted leaders and their sympathizers.
In the past six years, Haruna Iddrisu and his team of leaders of the Caucus chalked up a lot of successes and had some down moments as well.
Under his tenure as Minority Leader that ushered in the 8th Parliament, the party made history by leading the Minority to get in its nominee as Speaker in the person of Alban Bagbin.
And with a unique composition that made it almost an evenly split parliament, the 52-year-old will caused the government to make several concessions.
The Minority’s opposition led to the reduction in the controversial Electronic Levy from GHp1.75 to GHp1.50 when it was passed without their involvement.
He would co-sponsor a failed censure that went the full haul in an attempt to get the Finance Minister out.
The Tamale South MP would lead the Minority to reject the 2022 budget until it was revised.
He led a charge that caused the withdrawal of an GH¢80 million allocation to the National Cathedral project in the 2023 budget, and the rejection of two Supreme Court nominees in 2022.
The Minority raised concerns about the Agyapa royalties deal that culminated in its subsequent withdrawal.
MP for Dome Kwabenya Sarah Adwoa Safo can thank Haruna Iddrisu and the Minority Caucus for her continuous stay in Parliament as her party wanted her kicked out.
Out of Parliament, Haruna had led the Minority Caucus to show a united front when they made an appearance in court in ongoing separate cases involving Collins Dauda and Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, his successor.
But it was not all rosy for the immediate past Minority Meader as his party’s Director of Communications, Sammy Gyamfi, took an issue with his leadership and team in Parliament for betraying the party’s position on issues.
Haruna Iddrisu was seen to have unilaterally decided to compromise on the Electronic Levy Bill if it was reduced against what the decision of the NDC MPs was to refuse it.
Corruption allegations that were later withdrawn by Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga against the Appointments Committee in 2017 and the resignation of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa from the same Committee in 2021 may be dents on his leadership and how the Minority carried itself in the vetting of ministerial nominees.
But Haruna, who believes posterity is a better judge of events, now more than ever has to believe in that principle as he sits on the sideline under the leadership of Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
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