Yameen says Abdul Raheem sought his wife’s help after being sidelined
Abdul Raheem, once a close ally of Yameen, had attributed the former president’s loss of power to misuse of state funds and being controlled by his wife.
Former president Abdulla Yameen claimed on Sunday night that Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla had pleaded with his wife, Fathimath Ibrahim, to help restore his standing after being sidelined, and accused the Speaker of benefiting from his administration.
Speaking at a People’s National Front (PNF) gathering, Yameen was responding to remarks Abdul Raheem made at a People’s National Congress (PNC) meeting on Saturday night.
Abdul Raheem, once a close ally of Yameen, had attributed the former president’s loss of power to misuse of state funds, arrogance and being controlled by his wife.
Yameen said he was not ashamed of having a close relationship with his wife, describing her as the mother of his children and their relationship as the foundation of their family. He urged Abdul Raheem to examine his own circumstances before criticising others.
He claimed that neither his wife nor his family had taken out even a loan during his presidency. By contrast, he alleged that Abdul Raheem’s wife had been among the first people to receive a Bank of Maldives loan exceeding MVR 100 million after the current administration took office.
Yameen also claimed he had once distanced Abdul Raheem from the party because of his conduct, after which Abdul Raheem sought Fathimath’s intervention.
“He came to Madam and pleaded with her repeatedly, and was given another opportunity,” Yameen said.
Defending Fathimath’s role during his presidency, Yameen said she had undertaken social and humanitarian work at his request. He said his official duties left him unable to address all the requests for help that reached him.
According to Yameen, Fathimath worked with a team to handle those requests, easing his workload. He said Maldivian businesspeople had supported her work, in some cases without his knowledge, and that he learnt some donors’ identities only later.
He said people associated with Abdul Raheem had also received assistance. He cited arrangements for Abdul Raheem’s younger sibling to perform Hajj, saying these had not been made through the government’s official quota.
Yameen further alleged that Abdul Raheem had been among those who benefited most during his administration. He questioned how the Speaker had obtained about MVR 9 million to purchase two flats in Rehendhi-6 and claimed to know how the purchases had been financed.
He said he would investigate the matter if elected to a second presidential term.
