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Let us say
from the outset that the president’s holding back of the submission of
the opposition’s nominees to the electoral commission is illegal and is
an abuse of power. It is the many illegal actions like these that have
put a majority of parliament on the verge of impeaching him. Let us also
not forget that the impeachment motion was only suspended and could be
brought back if he continues to violate the 6-point agreement. Having
said this, it also clear that the opposition have not helped their cause
and have played right into the hands of the president. How so? First of
all, it is a widely known fact that the president is a serial violator
of the law and has ritually intervened in the legal process and
subverted its neutrality to the point that none of his political
opponents are willing to have the matters under dispute be resolved by
those whose job it is to resolve such disputes, namely, the judicial
authorities. So the question for the opposition is: why did they think
that someone with such a record is going to follow the law and forward
their nominee for the election commission to parliament without any
problem? More importantly, why did the opposition forward individuals
with obvious problems that could give the president an excuse to
withhold their nominations?
The opposition’s choice of candidates also shows a deeper problem in its
reading of the political situation which it sees as a battle of will
between itself and the government. Every political contest is in a sense
a battle of wills, and to that extent they are right. But political
contests especially in a democratic society are not solely about
political will, they are also about offering an alternative and winning
the people, and that is where the opposition is making a big mistake. By
choosing individuals with obvious problems for the electoral commission,
they have shown weaknesses in their decision-making that put question
marks on their claim that their parties are better alternatives to UDUB.
More crucially, they squandered an opportunity to demonstrate to
Somalilanders that they care about the well-being of ordinary citizens
and the political stability of the country so much that they are willing
to go the extra mile by choosing non-controversial individuals for the
electoral commission. Why is it important to the opposition that it
should be perceived as going the extra mile? The answer is simple:
because if it is not perceived as going the extra mile, it would be seen
as just another power hungry bunch, just like the government, who do not
give a hoot about the interests of the public, and consequently there is
no reason to vote for them to replace the current government.
We reiterate: the president has no legal right to decide who qualifies
to be on the electoral commission and who does not. That job belongs to
parliament. But this issue is not just about on whose side is the law,
it is also about who is on the side of the people and who is not, who is
engaging in delay tactics and who is not. To its credit, UCID has
realized this and quickly changed its nominee, thus depriving the
government of one reason to engage in delay tactics. Kulmiye must do the
same and thereby expose the president by taking away from him the other
remaining excuse. Otherwise the country will keep on being caught
between the president’s lawlessness and the opposition’s poor judgment.
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