Mariya’s biggest fear: Nasheed-Yameen coalition
To explain why she felt scared, Maria spoke of the injustices and atrocities faced during Yameen's tenure.
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By
Ahmed Mizyal
Defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi said on Friday that her biggest fear is that MDP President Mohamed Nasheed will form an alliance with former President Abdulla Yameen in order to gain power.
Nasheed has compared his rival President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and opposition leader and PPM president Yameen during his primary campaigns and praised Yameen for being a "visionary" as opposed to President Solih.
Speaking at a meeting held at Artificial Beach this evening as part of President Solih's 'MDP Forward - Ibu 2023' campaign, Mariya, who is also the spokesperson of President Solih's campaign team, expressed concern over Nasheed's praise.
"Today, when we are in power and our president Nasheed, the man our party loves so much saying that President Yameen is a visionary leader is difficult to hear," Mariya said.
"He is also talking about an alliance. And today, I am most scared that he will form an alliance with President Yameen to come to power."
To explain why she felt scared, Maria spoke of the injustices and atrocities faced during Yameen's tenure. Thus, she said:
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As Nasheed said when Yameen came to power, Nasheed was convicted by conducting the trial like a trail of lit firecrackers
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After Yameen came to power in a coalition, the power of senior coalition leaders was curbed after the elections were over
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Yameen's political rivals and all those who went to the coalition with him were arrested; including his 80-year-old brother and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
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Several lawmakers jailed
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Lost majority and lost their seats in the parliament
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Some media agencies were fined heftily
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Journalists jailed
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Parliament was seiged
"We cant allow him to make such a blunder no matter what. I would call to all of Nasheed’s followers to helpprevent such a catastrophe and come out on Saturday, January 28, 2023 and vote for President Ibu," Nasheed said.
Nasheed, who refused to give a direct answer when asked by reporters whether he would stand with President Solih in the election if he lost the primaries, posted a video on social media in which he was seen replying to a section of the public saying he would not be with the president. In Nasheed's speech, he also said he would not stand with PPM either.
"I will not be with the party. It's 100 to 100, I won't be with PPM," Nasheed said in the video.
"But I won't be with Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Isnt it over when I go alone and stay at home?"
Nasheed described Yameen as a visionary leader at a press conference on Monday.
He said he did not see Yameen as a very different person. He said the only difference of opinion between Yameen and PPM and him was the idea of 'India Out'.
Referring to some of the traits of Yameen, Nasheed said that President Solih cannot be said to have such qualities.
"I think President Yameen is an intellectual, an academic. Someone who is aware and has a vision. I don't see him as such a different person," he said.
Mariya said on Friday night that she had heard when Nasheed visited the islands, PPM supporters had welcomed him, holding posters and banners.
