By Geleh Ali Gulaid

The character of president Ahmed M. Mahamoud Sillanyo is what defines and extrapolates the phenomenal achievements attained in the short duration that he has been at helm and that ultimately differentiates him from his predecessor. For one, Ahmed M. Mahamoud Sillanyo has been Public servant with a moral responsibility to his country (Daanaya Dalkis) and not a politician. After he was robbed of the presidency in 2003 with the concocted bogus mere 80 plus votes, we saw the valor and dignity in which he conducted him-self with and the manner in which he chose the path of unity and cohesion of his country and accepted defeat. His convictions and fidelity to these sacred and inviolable principles that he incessantly defends is what shapes his character. Sacrificing on behalf of all and being obligated and compelled by moral commitment is nothing new to Ahmed M. Mahamoud Sillanyo. The accomplishments of his administration be it the making of primary and elementary education free or the doubling of salaries of the armed forces is not just the right thing to do but personifies the decency, fairness and justice to our ever greater ideals as a nation. Ahmed M. Mahamoud Sillanyo public life of servitude encapsulates an aura of common purpose and sense of community.

The president’s polycentric frame of delegating by consensus, hitherto foretold the permitting of the political parties, the president’s leadership style of co-opting all stakeholders allies and competitors alike in contributing into the country’s process of decision making. The committee he relied on to help select ministers for his cabinet and the many current advisors he currently retains only reaffirms his virtues and personifies the president’s ethos of dialogue and consensus garnered from reasoning together (talo-wadaagga). The ushering in of new political party’s offer us the synthesis platform of debate, civil arguments, where with the pluralistic participatory democracy; we can ventilate our eclectic views and divergent ideas through the political party of our choosing.

This president is not a one that is out of touch. He is occasionally observed strolling and shopping in the markets of Hargeysa unaccompanied which is portent of his operational capacity and economic background that is rooted to reality and pragmatic in his approach. The new NGO laws also go towards addressing and aligning the needs of our most vulnerable citizens by bring their plight to the forth front.

This president’s courtesy, civility and quality of temperament is why many previous politicians of president Rayale’s avaricious administration who robbed Somaliland blind hand over fist are walking free, with all their political posturing and legal maneuvering they left Somaliland with their banal empty maxims and no guilt or shame ever expressed to the magnitude of their callous deeds.

President Ahmed M. Mahamoud with his political acumen and statesman stature has been able to leverage Somaliland on its strengths. When the SSC militia blatantly provoked Somaliland into conflict by its the aggression, the president instead sought to resolve the issue peacefully and stretching an open hand (Gogol-dhig) which commenced in accordance to our participatory traditions of public discourse of debate through reasoning and compromise while remaining true to perdurability of Somaliland’s nomadic idiom of peace and milk (Nabad iyo Caano) that we live by.

Somaliland was also able to stretch its helping hand and come to the aid of its fellow neighbors and brothers in the South. This mirrors the peace loving and god fearing people that we are and our constitution that is based on Islamic laws and fundamental tenants of democracy.

Economically we have leaped frogged with the trilateral agreement with Ethiopia and China with tangible stakes for all. Ethiopia is not only Africa’s fastest growing economy but is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, which bodes well for every aspect of our economy. The people of Somaliland have much to offer to Africa and rest of the world. The pride, the resilience and drive of the Somaliland people are second to none. We are innovative, hardworking and willing to embark on any new frontier where prosperity may loom, just as our nomadic ancestors were on the move in seeking greener pastures. We have been able to leverage our strategic geographic location within this trilateral agreement. As Richard Burton put it “Berbera is the true key of the Red Sea, the center of East African traffic”. The people of Somaliland by a virtue of their geographical region from Zeila to Las Korey have been steeped in art of commerce and trade. The port and the people of Somaliland can become the all-important commerce-link of Ethiopia with the outside world. Domestically this will have the project will have a multiplier effect that can propel us to new plateau. We stand to benefit immensely from Petro Trans investments in our infrastructures. The building of an oil refinery also means small factories since the by products from refining are made into several products thus requiring such factories. The building of roads and the transportation of the goods will require logistics and supply-chain management and the superior port will have greater capacity that will ultimately lower prices of all staples.

In the end, Anyone can be a leader and hold a political office and have sharp tongue to sway the masses, but there are not many like Ahmed M. Mahamoud Sillanyo who with their vision can call all to work for the betterment of Somaliland and been able to create the culture and direction of the country to a one more conducive for goal attainment and that inspires all citizens to pursue laudable goals.

We all can remember the outcry and uproar that emanated from the president at his dismay of the looted and empty national coffers in addition to millions dollars in debt it was saddled with. And still he was the same person a month later that picked up the first dirt with his shovel and called all to lend a hand in the national cleaning campaign throughout the country. Somaliland has a true and loyal public servant!

We should be able to ask all our leaders and the heads of all the new political parties, Where is your shovel?

Inshallah until the day we have more investors than Aid workers in Somaliland.

United we prevail.

Geleh Ali Gulaid

Geleh@hotmail.com

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