It’s me in 2018, or none
By Dr.Mohamed Haneef
Last week the pro-Nasheed RaajeTV aired an interview of the former President. As usual the interview showcases Nasheed’s ability to contradict himself in words and in conduct, sometimes doing so within the same moment.
Headmitted that there was no real desire for the people to come out in the street to demonstrate. So it is now very clear that MDP is not trying to gather people for protests. But in the past MDP has made several attempts to gather during different occasions – and failed to gain moment. With the easing of difficulties in the health sector, supports to further strengthen education and opportunitycreation for the millennials, a growing number feel there is little genuine need for protests.
Without a genuine cause for so long a period of time, MDP seems to have lost its ability now to gather numbers – the core reason being thatparty activistshave lost confidence in their politiciansas they see political outlooks changing faster than seasonal shifts.
Nasheed himself has not won an election since 2008, meaning that MDP has lost two parliamentary and council elections.
While Nasheed has lost three presidential run offs in 2013, overall the appeal of Nasheed with the general public is dwindling.
Let us also not forget that he hasn’t ever won a recent election on his own. He has relied on coalitions or other deals that he has always gone back on by betraying his partners; even his party and the principles and values he claims to promote.
In the interview he was surprisingly adamant that the legitimate government lead by President Yameen should not be overthrown, saying that it would be against democratic principles.
Surprising why? Because Nasheed has been advocating the entire opposite since President Yameentook office after having won the election. Nasheed has advocated the overthrow of the government for some time now, especially with the formation of the MUO. Going as far as despatching his cousin and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Naseem to Sri Lanka and India where Naseem openly advocated foran, unconstitutional, interimgovernment to be put in place while the legitimate government was to be overthrown. Nasheed himself travelled to Sri Lanka and advocated for the same.
After giving his all at these faux diplomatic efforts,whilepreening to the media, and having realised that such actions on his part wasn’t gaining him any legitimacyhe has run out of options and is now trying to course correctand build up his democrat credential.
His current motivations are increasingly clear. Having been unable to gain any momentum to overthrow the current government his focus now is the elections which are drawing ever closer.
In his interview the British political asylum seeker expressed his desire to run in the elections saying that he would return for elections. This is yet another ploy to play to party activists and supporters to produce momentum in his advantage.
The young, popular and up-and-coming leader Mr.Ali Waheed resigned as the MDP chairman to make way for Nasheed’s desire to run. Waheed understandstoo well the liability that isNasheed’s desire to never let go of the party reins.
Party or the will of the people be damned – especially if they are standing in the way of what Nasheed believes to be his birth right and his throne presidency.
Dr. Mohamed Haneef (@Dr_Hanyfon Twitter) is a construction expert currently based in the United Arab Emirates.
