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By Said Farah Mohamed
Friday, January 16, 2009
Dhegdheer dhimatay, roobey
Dhulkii Nabade, roobey
Descend O’ rain Dhegdheer has just died
Descend O’ rain peace spread across land
Barely few days ago, Puntlanders were holding their breath for the fear that their previous failed leadership might get its way back by rigging votes in the process of election of President and VP of Puntland for the next four years on 8th of January 2009.
In addition, political uncertainty was looming large before every one living in Puntland or abroad, wondering whether we could safely swim ashore in the tough time ahead.
Vehicles mounted with heavy machine guns (Technicals) escorted candidates for the posts of President and VP numbering over 30, the highest ever in Puntland since its formation in 1998, roaming everywhere particularly the Capital city and other major towns in Puntland . This has sparked tensions of the already fragile political and security situations of the state.
Equally, political debates and meetings continued amid accusations and counter accusations between Adde and his administration from one side and the rest of candidates from other side. Moreover, each candidate began to host meetings with all sections of the community like elders, women, youth, educated class, and MPs to woo their maximum support and back up which sometimes caused frictions among candidates themselves.
To every body’s sigh of relief, thanks to Allah, the process has ended with utter success with a level that no one had ever anticipated it before to occur.
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President for Punland State of Somalia Abdirahman Mohamed Faroole |
On that day Thursday 8th January 2009, Security officials tightened a protection cordon around all streets leading to the governmental compound including the parliament inside Garowe town. Large number of key dignitaries attended the occasion such as prominent Isimo, presidential and vice presidential hopefuls, media, and other important public figures.
Within five hours of voting inside the parliament hall a new President for Punland State of Somalia, Dr Abdirahman Sh. Mohamed Mohud Farole, and vice President, General Abdisamad Ali Shire, have been elected in a democratic and transparent way.
Sirens of jubilation have echoed through out the town. National songs aired via large speakers mounted on public buses and the women ululated.
In my view, this absolute victory for our people and for our future has resulted by the following factors:
1. Majority of Puntlanders are peace loving, politically mature people and thus avoid violence and bloodshed, preferring a system of government and administration to rule their lives rather than anarchy and lawlessness
2. At times of crisis and in the absence of modern rule of law as such experienced in the period between 1991-1998 and at several occasions in previous administrations, people go back under the jurisdiction of customs law with the leadership of traditional Isimo and chiefs to run their own affairs peacefully and solve disputes in such critical times
3. With the world turning as one global village due to the advanced modern information technology and communication presidential and vice presidential hopefuls of Puntland elections replicated what their counterparts do in other democratic countries during election campaigns whereby each one launched his battle for campaigning his program using political posters, debates, and meetings and through local media outlets. Worth to mention that two days before the Election Day each candidate explained his election program before MPs to win their votes. That has enabled every individual, particularly parliamentarians to learn differences among candidates, weigh capability of each candidate for implementing his promises and hence base his selection on those facts
4. Finally people of all walks of life in Puntland with no exception from grass roots level up to upper crust have vowed to work together to bring a peaceful change in the top leadership during this election. However, though selection of members of parliament is still based on tribal quota-truly unfortunate ever after 10th anniversary of PSS formation, nevertheless every tribal chief came under pressure from his own people to either nominate a collaborative representative who calls for change to the parliament or let the previous member stay but with strict recommendations to opt for change. As a result, about half of the members who joined the parliament of 66 became new members and thus paved the way for a historic change in Puntland.
Now with the kick-start of the first stride for political change, stakes are high from our new leadership mainly:
- To carry out promises in their campaign programs and translate it into reality such as improving security situation, reforming economy and fighting corruption and nepotism
- Push back invading forces of Hargeisa authority from our territories occupied in SSC regions and holding them at bay in order to restore liberty and freedom to local inhabitants in those regions. Let also those prime connivers in that authority recognize that what they call British Somaliland has no legal meaning currently in the international law because it had already expired in 1960 after the union of two parliaments from the two independent parts of Somali territories and the formation of Somali Republic. Any activities carried by any party contrary on the above would brandish itself as an act of terrorism as this same entity is doing now in such areas.
- Finalize writing draft of the new constitution as well as organizing national census in the seven regions of Puntland before holding referendum for the approval of the constitution. This would surely lead transition of tribal based parliament to a multi party system for the state of Puntland
- To come up with a fixed-term development plan that prioritizes education, health, fishing, livestock, agriculture, and other public sector services as well as encouraging private sector activities and investments
Said Farah Mohamed
Email: [email protected]