Daahir Riyaale is he a President or a Hooligan ?

As I scrolled around the Somaliland websites, to see if there was anything of a great political interest or development in my home country, all that I could see were, Daahir Riyaale back to his old tricks. In a recent development he has violated the Udab Party constitution by refusing to conduct the process of electing the Udab Party nominee for presidency fairly. Sources that are close to the president have categorically admitted, that once he found out that there were candidates, who were planning to run for Udab Party Presidency as well as the Vice-Presidency he said that he will re-draft the party constitution to make it illegal to run for the President or the Vice-President position other than those that are in power.

Now I do not personally support the Udab party, but as a citizen of Somaliland, I find it rather chilling as well as a sense of unease at the steps, that the transitional President has taken as a response to the matter at stake. There is a Somali saying, which quotes “A small road leads to a bigger one” looking at that particular saying, a question comes to mind which is, if this overdue President is responding in this manner to just a trivial matter in comparison to the elections that are going to happen in March, how will he respond, when or if he loses the Presidency? It does not take a genius to work out the answer to that question.

It is my opinion that a nation should always look into its past to find the answers to the future. If that is the case I would like to tell a brief history to Mr Riyaale. Somaliland has accomplished renaissance through the hard work and effort of the few, such as Mr Ahmed Sillanyo, Col M Ali (R.I.P), Col Ibrahim Dhagaweeyne, Col Musa Bihi, Col Ahmed Mereh, Col AbdiQaadir Koosaar (R.I.P), Col Daayeb Quuray (R.I.P), Col Mohammed Xaashi Lixleh (R.I.P), Mr Mohamed Xaashi Elmi, Col Abdullahi X Iiman(Diirwal), Col Mohammed Kaahin, Col Dr Omer Duhod, Col Adan Saleeban (R.I.P), Col Ibrahim Koodboor (R.I.P), Col Mohammed Qassim Maleen (R.I.P), Col Xassan Saleban Waynee, Col Mohammed A Jidaaf and so forth. These individuals have given their life and wealth to the creation of a nation through the process of Democracy. They have fought in the beaches, in the trench and in the bushes and will also do it again, if you try to commit the acts of a dictator. The position that you are fighting for was given to you on a silver plate and we would appreciate if you could do the same. If you choose to not do that you will ultimately face the repercussions of your action and believe me they will be painful.

The recent Kulmiyee Party convention should be an example of how you should hold your Party convention. During their convention they transparently elected the nominees for the President as well as the Vice-President without any problems. This tells me that they are a competent party who are able to resolve their disagreements in a professional manner, whilst always upholding the Parties Constitution.

There is an old English saying, which quotes “Its hard to teach an old dog new tricks” this saying is apparent in Somaliland today. Mr Riyaale administration is full of old crooks, who have no understanding of the Somaliland Civil as well as Diaspora Society. They are remnants of the former General Siyaad regime, the only method that they understand is to conduct dodgy dealings behind close doors. The only thing that they resemble is the plague that has barred Somali in general from any development. And it is this individuals who have advised Mr Riyaale to firstly violate all the articles of the constitution and I promise that they will also encourage him to hold on to power as long as possible after the election even if Mr Riyaale loses, just like Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

Mr Riyaale we will hold you solely responsible for conducting a transparent election and if due to your laziness, stupidity or incompetence the Somaliland recognition is delayed by a minute, you and your corrupt advisers will take the responsibility.
 

Abdillahi A. Duhod BSc
Royal Bank of Scotland Financial Consultant
abdilahiduhod@yahoo.com