By Noah Arre

I cannot understand why all politicians think alike! I can especially hardly understand why third world political leaders consider themselves as “supper humans”. And I cannot understand why all like to see things only through their own perspectives. I cannot understand why they shamelessly ignore realties. I can hardly understand why most believe and practice that “you are either with me or you are against me.” And I cannot understand why when you join an opposition party for instance you are the true enemy of a particular political leader.

It is ridiculous but I cannot understand why politicians take things personal and immediately roll up their sleeves ready to hit you where it hurts most. I especially can hardy understand why incumbents always try to bend national laws to their liking. I can hardly understand why they love to lock up those who oppose them in jails. And I can hardly understand why even hopeless politicians who badly failed in their tenure never give up but rather go the distance to get elected again!

It is also silly but it is true that all third world political leaders always promise you bread and butter during the campaign season and once elected, they leave you out in the cold. And I can hardly understand why most politicians have “their inner-circle corrupt advisors!” And I can hardly understand why most of them take seemingly noble actions during the last few months of their tenure hoping you trust and vote for them again.

Today, when it comes to poor Somaliland, I can hardly understand why the government, the sole owner of the whole national resources, is poor when the private sector there is prosperous and booming. I can hardly understand why many government officials whose pay checks are far less than $200 a month apiece, lead flamboyant life-styles. I can hardly understand why Somaliland public services are pathetic when those of the private sectors are extremely great! I can hardly understand why Hargeysa, the capital of Somaliland, lives under water and electricity rationing when citizens of other relatively poor towns there enjoy a 24-hour running water! I can hardly understand why the capital city streets are filthy and all its major roads in the town are full of potholes.

On the other hand, I can hardly understand why when Somaliland diasporas visit their country and offer free technical know-how services, certain government officials there tell them: “This place is not a vacuum and what are we doing here ourselves? We are the ones who rule the nation and what makes one think one is more patriotic than us?”

In addition, one can hardly understand why certain national ills like “ku qabso ku qadi mayside… or go and seize any resources, property etc. even when it is not yours, because you will get paid…” or “ku dhaaro ku dimanmayside……or swear that this property or resource is yours... because even if you do so, you will not die and will get paid…” go unabated and may in fact are condoned even by the national courts.

Similarly, it is extremely incomprehensible but also true that estimates say that poor and extremely under developed Somaliland spends no less than $100 million a year solely on Qat… the hallucinating narcotic leaves people chew on daily basis, when our children sleep on empty tummies; their schools remain closed and hospitals lack basic humane treatment services!

This is unfortunate. Yet all are the facts of life in poor Somaliland. This is the reality in struggling Somaliland today. It was the realty in poor Somaliland yesterday. And it has always been the reality ever since poor Somaliland stood on its feet over sixteen years ago!

Despite all these ills; despite all these visionless leadership qualities on the part of the national government, politicians in poor Somaliland and their blind supporters want you to sing melodious songs with them today, because after all, this is election year! And apparently campaigning for his friend, the other day, a friend of mine who just came back from Somaliland asked me: “Why did you join the opposition party?”

Though I thought this as a personal matter, my answers were put to him as follows:

1. “What does opposition mean to you?

2. “Don’t you think that every one has the right to support any party?

3. “As a citizen, would you rather remain loyal to a particular party all your life even if that party fails in its national endeavors?

4. “In an election year, wouldn’t you join any party whose campaign promises sound perfect?

5. “At election times, would you rather vote for principles or for personal interests?

6. “Would you consider your politician your favorite simply because he/she is from your clan?

In conclusion, I do believe that it is silly to support someone solely on the basis of regionalism or tribalism. It is also stupid to support someone because you have personal interests in him/her. Rather it is far better to support someone because you believe that that someone will lead your nation out of the doldrums. And unless we, those of us who want to care this nation, realize that and cross the clan barrier that seems to bedevil the whole destiny of country, poor Somaliland is in for a long haul!

noah.arre@gmail.com

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