I am really, really disappointed about Ahmed Mohamed 'Silaanyo' interview with the BBC's Somali section on 7th February, 2003. As a veteren politician who graced the corridors of power for many years, including a tenure in the dysfunctional former Somalia, not to mention the period he was the chairman of SNM, I was expecting him to be frank and upfront about his political programme for the upcoming presidential elections.
The BBC has given him an unprecedented opportunity to state his policies with minimum intervention from the interviewer, Younis Ali Nuur. Instead, he waffled and failed to state clearly what he would offer the people of Somaliland should he becomes a president. He spent a lot of his precious air time on President Rayaale's aborted trip to Laascaanood which he accused the incumbant president of instigating war in order to gain a political capital.
He even went further to say that the whole purpse of Rayaale's visit to Sool was to impose a state of emergency if the unthinkable happens. when asked if he would be contented and accept the results of the forthcoming presidential elections he hesitated and failed to say a clear yes or now. He accused Udub, the ruling party, of vote-rigging in Somaliland's recent local elections in which his party surprisingly came second to Udub.
It was apparent from his interview that he would make many noises and excuses should he loses to Mr Rayaale whom he even avoided to mention by name. I was expecting him to throw big blows and cease the opportunity given to him with both hands. However, he failed miserably and many people who were beating the drums for him as the possible political heavyweight in the contest must be asking themselves where things have gone wrong for him. If one of the front runners of the upcoming presidential elections is not confident about free and fair elections happening in Somaliland what would be the reaction of our enemies in Eldoret and in Puntland. Let us hope Mr Silaanyo (if he fails) accepts defeat gracefully and not follow the footsteps of Arteh and Abdirahman Tuur who, when they failed their campaign to be elected for the post of the president in Borama conference, left Somaliland for good (Arteh recently returned to Somaliland)and tried all they can to destroy the good name of Somaliland in abroad.
Mohamed Yabarag - London, UK |
