anni feels the heat
Annie Feels the HeatMaldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman Mohamed Nasheed (Annie) has launched a vicious and typically baseless attack on Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom as he struggles to keep himself from slipping away into obscurity.
Annie called Gayyoom "an old relic who could hardly walk" in an interview published on minivannews.com, an MDP-run clandestine website (through its international wing leader David Hardingham). The reality is that in the politics of the New Maldives, and specifically in Gayyoom's government, the scene is dominated by figures younger, brighter and more vibrant than Nasheed.
At the forefront are Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed as well as the Ministers for Justice and Information among others. Other key portfolios (such as Finance and Treasury: Mr. Gasim Ibrahim, Atolls: Mr. Waheed Deen) are held by self-made, respected and hugely successful businessmen and widely respected figures. With the experienced and far-sighted statesman Gayyoom as the guidance, the current executive is ideally suited to take the Maldives into a brilliant future.
Nasheed is increasingly seen as a narrow minded, 'single-concept' figure. He has continuously and unsuccessfully tried to topple the constitutionally elected government for 18 years. No amount of distortion or rhetoric can make 18 years of failure appear more attractive than 27 years and more of success.
Nasheed was involved in planning the 1988 terrorist attack on the Maldives, which resulted in the deaths of 19 innocent Maldivians. Nasheed's uncle, Sikka Ahmed Ismail Maniku, was subsequently found guilty on 19 counts of murder for his lead in funding, planning and the execution of the gruesome attack.
Despite Annie's work, the Maldivian people have, at regular five-year intervals, delivered a slap in his face at each presidential election. Over 90% of the electorate still find Gayyoom to be the most qualified and ideal man to lead this nation.
Annie has also begun to be overshadowed even within his own party. Achievers like Mohamed Waheed and Ibrahim Zaki are seen to be the future by party members and they are providing the main impetus in its activities. Nasheed's views are eschewed and he feels isolated. While he tries to make an issue of Gayyoom's health, his party overwhelmingly reaffirmed that the mobility of the party leader is NOT an issue.
According to an attendee at MDP's recent congress: "It would be wise for Annie to realise that it is not politically correct to raise physical incapacity or disability as issues in this day and age. [MDP Leader Mr. Ibrahim Ismail] Ibra is unfortunately a victim of childhood polio, that has left him both physically and psychologically debilitated. My concern is that intellectually as well, Ibra is a nobody compared with Gayyoom."
"Sadly, with Annie's newest statements it is not Gayyoom, but Annie himself who looks like a relic, a dinosaur from the past. “Has he been in a cave all this time? Doesn't he know you can't discriminate based on physical ability, or sex or age" added the disgruntled MDP member, who wished to remain anonymous,
"Perhaps it's his intellectual inadequacy showing through. He only has a second class degree in Maritime Studies; I can't think of how that may help us Maldivians in any way other than maybe by working in a boatyard" said, Ibrahim Thakkhaan, a boat builder from Velidhu island.
Mr. Nasheed is looking back upon several failed business ventures and charges of fraud and deception in addition to his rather pitiable 'political' career. He is searching for a political esteem he never had by trying to discredit successful people with petty name-calling.
He is fast ending up looking like a comical little insignificant character in the eyes of Maldivians. There was a time when he could get someone's attention; now he is no more than a fringe figure in the government's eyes and a petty annoyance for the MDP.
Nasheed's future is bleak - and he seems to know there is no changing that.
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