My disappointment with PM Nur Adde

by By Abdi Mohamed Ali
Friday, May 16, 2008

PM Nur Adde - Trying to use the clan card to stay in his position rather than go to the parliament

I was one of many Somalis who felt a sense of hope to resolve the problems of Somalia in November 2007 when Nur Adde was appointed Prime Minister of Somalia ,. To begin with Nur Adde was not like Mohamed Ali Gedi who was brought to the Somali people by none other than Melse Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Nur Adde, I was told lived in exile somewhere in Europe like many Somalis in the Diaspora. I know no one loves his country more than an exile. I thought he will even care more about Somalia and the Somali people.

At that time when Nur Adde became Prime Minister some of my friends saw things differently. It is true that Nur Adde to become Prime Minister staged a massive campaign. In November 2007, a large group of 300 clan members headed by Mohamed Dheere, the mayor of Mogadishu went from the capital to Baydhabo to campaign for and secure the appointment of Nur Adde as Prime Minister of Somalia. This was clearly, a man who quietly made his bidding by using his fellow members of his clan. Given the situation of the country I did not see that as a problem. I thought he was a good man playing the game of the time using less ethical ways to get the position and then use ethics and his moral to run the country. As events would prove, I was sorely wrong.

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One of my friends who had reservations at that time pointed out to me, who will seek to become prime ministers in this dark days when the country was under occupation? Some of my friends have also pointed out the fact Nur Adde was the Attorney in the National Security Court of Somalia in the 1980s. Nur Adde was also a police colonel who at one time headed the tax agency of the police force (Turubatario). Many of my friends painted a picture of Nur Adde as someone who will do anything to get anything. Against all their concerns to me a man he was a man who had a long behind him a service to serve the nation in different capacities. As a Somali citizen Nur Adde had every right to hold any position in any Somali government. It was not his fault how the country was run. He was not the leader of Somalia. He was not responsibile how the country was managed or administered. After all a country and its government belong to his people. No leader is owner of his country. People have right to serve.

After 7 months in the job as prime minister, I admit I was wrong and my friends were right. Anyone who is given a high position cannot hide much longer. An English proverb says, “The more you go up the more your buttock shows.” It is now very clear for all the Somali people who Nur Adde is. Nur Adde is like many Somali politician before him an opportunistic man to the bone. This is the picture my friends were painting him which I refused to accept at the time.

My biggest disappointment with Nur Adde is his use of anything to hold and stay in his position. On May 15th we saw how Nur Adde was trying to use the clan card to stay in his position rather than go to the parliament which made it possible for him to become a prime minister by changing the legislation for him and enabling him and anyone outside the government and its parliament to become a minister or prime minister. Nobody knows why Nur Adde have chosen to go behind his own government and parliament and ask for help from clan elders. What has he done which is so bad which he cannot keep his position? By using the legal way why he cannot go in front of his parliament and defend himself about any thing or any subject? Does Nur Adde now know that his colleagues in the parliament have understood?

Ahmed Diriye is an elderly Somali who appointed himself as a clan spokesman. He has been acting as a clan pressure point to the transitional government. It is true Nur Adde was appointed under the clan division system which the Transitional government has been established in Nairobi in 2004. But Nur Adde was not the only clan member who went for the job. It was not Ahmed Diriye who appointed Nur Adde to become Prime Minister. There were many candidates at the time when the TFG leader chose Nur Adde as his choice. It was Abdullahi Yusuf who picked Nur Adde and who Nur Adde should be grateful.

The other point is the fact Nur Adde was all along using the so-called negotiations between his own government and the Islamic groups for self publicity. Everybody knows it was a waste of time to try to negotiate between the transitional government and the Islamic groups. From Nur Adde point, now we know this was a PR (public relations) exercise to promote himself, not as a genuine effort to solve the problems of the country. In a clearly opportunistic way Nur Adde was also undermining the President, Abdullahi Yusuf showing him as the man against peace and stability in the country. Let us question ourselves; what did Nur attempt to gain from these negotiations other than to make himself big in the eyes of the international community and the UN as a man of peace where there was no peace other than power struggle? Did Nur Adde think he was going to get a Noble peace certificate by staging a false pretence? This is opportunism for all to see. Everybody knows the Islamic groups are after power. That is including after his own position. The Islamic groups have tasted power and they will never rest until they get it. As to Nur Adde, my question is why is every Somali who is trusted becoming like this? Now I know my friends were right and I was wrong. I do not know why I did not see what my friends saw in November 2007. Nur Adde, like many Somalis before you too have become a Big disappointment! You too are after power, money and high living. May Allah forgive you for wasting our time and the time of all Somalis.

Abdi Mohamed Ali
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