turns ugly
MDP Leadership Clash Turns UglySources inside the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) inform olhuala.com that Ibrahim (Ibra) Ismail (MP for Male’ and MDP leadership candidate) and Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Maniku (MDP Leadership hopeful) are currently involved in a mud-slinging match for the MDP’s top post.
Sources tell olhuala.com that the feud between the candidates has created two camps within the MDP and that the candidates are no longer on speaking terms. This is a huge blow for the MDP as the all important by elections are only a couple of weeks away.
It is believed that Dr Maunnawar the former attorney general and Ibrahim Hussain Zaki have sided with Mr Ismail, although they too are leadership candidates. It is unclear whether Munnawar and Zaki have already given up any hope of they themselves being elected. Dr Munnawar also ran for the Vice Presidency, but withdrew his candidacy during the last week for ‘personal reasons’. Haamid Abdul Gafoor, a firm supporter of Dr Waheed told olhuala.com that ‘Munnawar withdrew his candidacy on orders from Ibra. We still don’t know what they are playing at’.
It is thought that the falling out between the leading candidates began when Dr Waheed’s general on the ground Nazaki Zaki managed to spread stories in Shaviyani Atoll, about Mr Ismail which lead to Mr Ismail’s defeat during his fight for the Provincial Presidency.
Sources also inform olhuala.com that Mr Ismail’s younger brother Fayaz Ismail, a millionaire resort owner and media mogul has launched a defamatory media campaign against Dr Waheed, in retaliation using his media company Business Image Group (BIG). The young Mr Ismail was also known to be actively involved in the planning and financing of the more sinister activities carried out by the MDP in the recent past. ‘Fayaz Ismail and his partner Hussain Solah spent over $10,000 to fund the recent riots that took place in Male’ last August’ Ibrahim Rasheed (AKA IC) of the MDP informed olhuala.com. This money was used to pay drug addicts to come out on the streets and throw petrol bombs at public property.
BIG’s defamatory effort focuses on Dr Waheed’s involvement in the planned bombings of the Dharubaaruge during the SAARC summit in 1990, and Dr Waheed’s part in planning the arson attacks on various houses and cars in Male’ during the same period.
It is still unclear whom the MDP members will elect as their leader. It’s a close race between Waheed and Ismail. It is clear though; the one who does not win will not have any involvement with the MDP. A close aid of Mr Ismail revealed to olhuala.com that he was sure that Mr Ismail would form a party of his own, if Dr Waheed were to win the MDP leadership. It is also well known on the streets of Male’ that if Mr Ismail wins, Dr Waheed will flee the country once again.
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