A Somali Presidential aspirant Abdirahaman
Mahamed Moallim says Presidential aspirant, has said that the country lacks good
leadership with a plan to drive peace and development. He spoke Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya on his way to Mogadishu at his
declaration to contest the 2012 presidential election.
"I steadfastly believe that this
country is gifted with natural resources and men and women of great capability.
"What persists to be lacking is
appropriate leadership with a vision and purpose to marshal our fortunes for
better future,'' Abdirahman said. there is no entitlement to be President of
Somalia and calls such a idea " an error'. In describing
the notion as a "wrong approach" by some who are laying claim to the
leadership of Somalia because of their prior political agitation, Mr. Moallim.
also known as (Sharaf) said that leadership should, instead, be based on
"electability and the objective approach to addressing issues that Somalia
currently faces."
The American chronically Canadian based Somali Engineer Abdirahman told
American chronicles in an exclusive interview over the weekend
that if the argument that those who made 'contribution' to Somalia are
entitled to its leadership then its holds true for all Somalia.
He, however, called for an evaluation of the background and contribution of
those who are claiming to have made significant contribution to Somalia's
political situation. According to the Presidential candidate, " the
Somalia which took its independent from Italia and British in 1960, was by far
better than the one today," an apparent reference to the relative
stability of the Adan Cade administration just before the military that ushered in the Siad Bare regime.
Asked if he possessed the political maturity, international connections,
gravitas and qualification to serve as President of Somalia, Mr.Moallim
recounted his achievement as an engineer and as business person who had built a
successful company, worked with some of the finest international organizations
globally and studied and interacted in the last 15 years with some who have
been in leadership in Somalia. "I come
to this as a Somali with a passion to help Somalis in general and to bring a
new perspective; a new type of leadership that focuses on management
issues." He discounted the notion that Somalia lacks human and material
resources, adding, "we have a management problem; we are not managing the things
we have."
Sharaf Moallim who hails from the Mogadishu, Somalia was asked how he
hoped to address the issue of "endemic corruption" in Somalia
to which he replied " ..Somalis, by nature are not corrupt." He cited
examples of scores of Somalis around the world in positions that are
respectable and recognized for their integrity, performance and skills.
He wondered by the vice corruption seems to exist in Somalia and offered that
"we have not brought leadership and to put in place the kind of
systems we need in Somalia..." The Presidential aspirant called for
"a return to the basics; stop layering problems and find out why
corruption is so endemic in this country. I think circumstances and lack of a
system are contributing to this issue."
In a recent press statement issued, Mr. Moallim noted that "the election
in 2012 must be given a better alternative". And so, he was presenting
himself as that "alternative". When pressed as to whether he believes
that the Final Report of the UN Monitoring group should be fully implemented,
Mr. Moallim qualified his position as saying '" ...this is only
a way to fight corrupted Somali leaders; this not a court and this is not a
verdict of a judge. However we will need special court to try corrupted
politicians. Because that says Somalia has no way to reconcile."
In its totality, the UN Monitoring group Final
Report confirms the recklessness as well as the unspeakable corruption that
left Somalia one the corrupt countries in the world.
The UN Monitoring group Final Report is by no means perfect, nor a panacea.
However, it is a courageous step on the long journey toward competing
corruption. Thanks to the ubiquitous Internet; millions around the world have
read the document. Now people are watching to see how Somalis are going to
react.
Therefore, we must seize the moment and do what is right. Even in these darkest
hours - you must believe - Somalia is being repositioned to lead Africa's
transformation again. The challenges we face currently are mere opportunities
to rebuild a new nation from the bottom up, embedding in its foundation rule of
law and the tenets of Islamic principles. Let us not pull back on account of
lies, fear and intimidation. Because the atrocities committed in Somalia can
never be forgotten; neither will the content of the UN monitoring group
Report..."
In his exclusive interview over the weekend, Presidential aspirant Mr. Abdirahman
Sharaf cited the booming business concessions in Mogadishu, Somalia prior to
instability in the country saying that businesses are 'not attracted to
"lack of rule of law and order and a system". These, he
said, can only come about through Justice and stability.
The first time Presidential aspirant dismissed any assertion that he
had any chance of winning the election, adding ' with my collective
experience and understanding of the Somali situation, I can offer the best
resolution to our situation at this time."
Somalia has scheduled the second Presidential elections for 2012 after 20 years
of hostilities in which an estimated 550,000 died or were dislocated.
Mr. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has served
notice that he will contest the next election as a 'formidable candidate."
Others have also announced their intention to compete against Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed.
