Yameen's challenge to leadership: 'Must dare to take to streets for me'

President-elect Dr Mohamed Muizzu has requested that rallies and demonstrations should not be held to pressure him to free former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. However, Yameen's comments on Wednesday evening were meant to challenge the president-elect's statement. Speaking to supporters who gathered outside his residence on Wednesday evening, he said, "The people should not hesitate to come out onto the streets when the leader who did the greatest work for the country is arrested. You must have that courage. It's not just when you get positions, that you dare to make claims. What's inside the person has to be shown before that."

Responding to the president-elect's statements as part of his victory speech on Monday, Yameen continued his speech. He said it was not the big shots or the powerful people that were trying to free him now. Describing big shots as enemies, he said, "We are already witnessing the same ordinary common people coming out on the streets shouting slogans, from the common people who love me when I got jailed, or held at house arrest, even after doing all the work."

"But those in the top seats got there because of the efforts of president Yameen's team. It's human nature, but it's a shame that they don't remember it when they get to positions. But the love of the people, even if you are sent to jail, you can't take it back," Yameen said in his emotion outburst.

In an apparent dig at PPM-PNC leadership, Yameen asked his supporters to question them about why they were not on the streets calling to free him when they go to the people asking for votes. Yameen questioned whether those who did not dare to participate in such activities would be able to do any national work. He said he would not beg even the new government to get freed.

"At most they’re going to send me back to jail, right? I've decided that it's my second home now," he said.

Yameen assured that his innocence would be clear to everyone after the court proceedings. He then questioned how politicians had been released on bail from previous sentences but he had not been given the chance.

“I don't even get bail,” Yameen said.

However, Yameen said his biggest joy is the end of this government. He said he doesn't know how to thank his supporters and the public for that, he said, adding that he would give the new president all the support he could.

Yameen believes that corruption has been carried out to the point that no one in the leadership of the incumbent government can escape. When the investigation begins, it will become clear whether the money was taken away in "lorries," he said.

"Our new government must have the courage to look into these issues," he said.

Yameen said the government and India had “taken away” his chance to contest the election by expecting to win the election in a single round. But God's plan is better than that, he said.

"They also should know that no matter how much they think about things and do things, unless their purpose is right, then there will be no colour in what they are saying," Yameen said.

Repeating that the Indian army should not get a "grain of sand" from Maldives, Yameen said the Indian army should pack their bags and leave. He said he would not stop his advocacy and that national work must be carried out with a strong foothold, determined.

If he gets the chance to rule again, he will work for the people, he said. However, he is not interested in being "almighty president" he said. He said he was the one who dared to stay in jail and he was not escaping by making any deals with anyone. Everyone else in the political arena will keep on revealing more the more you ‘dig’, he said.