The Coming Presidential Elections - Suleiman Egeh

Part 1

The coming presidential elections:

A great opportunity for change "Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict through a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." Martin Luther King Jr.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.

Democracy is a word that has been with us for several thousand years. But in most cases it is misused, abused and misrepresented. In the last century, it became a patch which even known tyrannical states pin on their suits for show. Some unscrupulous states used names such Democratic Republic of Yugoslavia, Democratic Republic of East Germany and the Democratic Republic of Korea.In the dictionary definition, "democracy" is a government by the people in which the highest power of the state lays with the people.

According to Abraham Lincoln the 16th president of the United States " Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people."Democracy is a set of ideas and principles about freedom. A democratic society must have the following three attributes:1. Constitutionally elected government 2. Respect of civil and human rights 3. Equality for all before the law.Before I get into the main topic-the presidential elections, I want to respectively disagree with Mr. Ahmed Sh. Farah of Harow.com regarding his rebuttal of a piece on Waheen.com website.The Waheen piece illuminated that the Mahad Asse sub clan are jockeying for the vice-presidential slot in KULMIYE party.

I don't see anything wrong if the different Samaroon Subclans, Isaaq sub clans, Issa sublans, Harti subclan or Gabooye run from different parties. We are in a democratic society. Different individuals, different subclans running from different parties is just healthy, democratic, and I don't understand how that can bet some subclans against the other.Though there is a common big picture, clans, subclans and sub sub clans have different interests. If some Samaroon sub clans are running for the presidency from UDUB, what is wrong if the other Somaliland communities including the Mahad Asse run from KULMIYE or UCID.

Every individual, clan, sub clan or sub sub clan have the right to run from any party they want. We all know the country badly needs a change for the better. Our country is in a transition from the anarchic tribal system into a party system. We are a fledgling democracy. We know the power of the clan will be weakening as time passes. But we have to face it, some form of tribalism will be with us for sometime.On the other hand, attacking the messenger and calling him names is counter productive. Though I don't know who wrote the Waheen message, I strongly believe the contents are genuine and are a reflection of the coming presidential elections.

The temperature of the presidential elections is getting hotter every day. I am not a fan of clannism in general, but I still believe the Mahad Ase community has every right to run from any party they wish. The other Somaliland communities also have that right. Like other subclans, The Mahad Asse subclan are free to run from where ever they think their interest is. The time when citizens will remain captive for do nothing politicians because of clan affiliation only is over.I strongly believe the country needs a new direction. The country needs a peaceful change for the better.

The time for new blood is here. The nation needs a fresh leader and leaders who can steer it to a new forward direction. We have seen the insignificance of clannism and tribalism. We know it is just a monster that is excessively used by some politicians. It is the trademark used by poor politicians who are bent to bypass the normal public scrutiny. It is a crutch used by mediocre politicians who are aspiring to reach to the top echelons of power by simply invoking its name.The time for these politicians to deceive all people is gone.

Few my still get away with this nonsense. but the time for politicians without political plans, agendas, platforms to come to the highest offices of the land through tribalism is in the past. The time of a peaceful democratic change is here. We reached the time for a peaceful transfer of power.The current government will also be remembered and evaluated with their record. They will be praised by the good things they have done and will be criticized for their mistakes.All the political parties must wage a clean, democratic and robust campaign where they lay out their policies and plans. It is time these parties and especially KULMIYE and UCID have to shake every tree, climb every mountain, wade through every river and earn the votes of every and each Somalilander.

These parties have to abandon the grouping of people. They must stop the wholesale lumping of people together on the bases of ethnicity, tribalism and regionalism. People must be treated as individuals regardless of their ethnicity, tribe and region. The parties must put together clearly come up with political plans. They need to sell their agenda to the mases.With no malaise, political parties must explain their political platforms in every hamlet, village, farm, town, city and even in the Diaspora. KULMIYE, UCID and UDUB must campaign in the all areas of Somaliland, from north to south and west to east. The leaders aspiring to replace the current president Mr. Rayaale must put together a robust political platform.

They must formulate a winning formula that may effect change for the better.The bardon is on these parties to explain to Somalilanders that they are a better alternative to the current administration.Angry politicians must stop their rantsIn general I am against the imprisonment of the Qaran politicians such as Mr. Mohamed hashi and Der Gaboose. But on the other hand, it is time for these politicians and others to come up with something positive. The latter must come with some kind of good policies and platforms they can sell to citizens. These politicians must stop resorting to negative campaigns of the past.They must explain themselves, and stop just focusing on other's shortcomings.

I never heard something positive from the above-named politicians. You can not be relevant leaders by simply focusing on others negatives and the politics of division, discord and disagreement. It is time for these old guard to put up or pack up and just disappear into quieter and non political lives. These politicians must abandon their bizarre behavior and bellicose political statements.They must emphasize peace, harmony and the common good. They must stop bringing constant flashing of new tricks from their magic box. They need to stop the introduction of new unregistered and illegal parties.

They need to obey the land of the land. If the constitution allows the creation of a new party, the government must let them exercise that right. But if it didn't allow the creation of a new party, these leaders have to follow the law. This is a country of laws. This politicians must stop their attention seeking stunts and outrageous statements.

Suleiman Egeh-Freelance writer
MS: Moleuclar Biology
MA: Science Education

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