None better than Azim; won't run parallel state like Muizzu: Solih

Former President and Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) interim President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih has said that there is no one better than their candidate Adam Azim for the mayoral position at the Male City Council that was vacated by the interim president Muizzu. Solih also added that Azim will not run a separate government like his predecessor Mohammed Muizzu. 

Solih said this while addressing a rally at Sultan Park on Thursday evening to conclude Azim's 'Can and Will' campaign.

Speaking at the rally, Solih said the party has done a strong campaign in the short period of time. The MDP has done the same activities in previous elections in this campaign, he said.

"We have to work harder tomorrow and tonight, in the hours leading up to the election. We should not make a mistake this time. This, I think, is an election already in our hands," he said.

"All we have to do is go out and vote. Hopefully the people of Male will elect Adam Azim of the MDP as the Mayor of Male this time”.

The problems in the city can be solved by Azim, Solih said. He also accused the current ruling PPM-PNC majority council of neglecting the city and accused them of not bringing about positive change in the last two years.

"The reasons are very clear. The person who has been mayor so far in the existing council, did not want to run the council as the law says, but rather wished to run a government. To accumulate all powers, and to reach beyond the laws”, referring to President Muizzu, who has been the Mayor of the city for the past two years, Solih said:

Solih, who was defeated in the recent presidential election, said on Thursday evening that President Muizzu ran the council against the purpose of decentralization introduced by the MDP.

"The MDP introduced decentralization to Maldives. We know how to do it. Adam [Azim] is here to do it," he said.

Solih said that he felt confident that Azim will perform his duties as mayor in accordance with MDP's ideology and according to the wishes of the people of Male.

"Adam is coming out as mayor, as I said, to do the work that has been legally assigned to the council. Not to form another government and run a separate government. And not to mock the current government," he said.

Azim is coming to the post to serve the people and solve the problems, he repeatedly said. He said the government had suspended the allocation of land and flats given to the people during his government and the issue could be resolved quickly by electing an 'MDP person' as mayor.

“In my experience, I am confident to say that there is no one else in this country who is better qualified to do such a thing than Adam Azim,” he said.

The former President then explained that Azim had done everything he was assigned in his government to the best of his ability and counted off several reasons why he should be elected as the Mayor. Thus: