Return of Gayoom to politics should be major concern for DRP- Shaheed

Former Foreign Minister Professor Ahmed Shaheed has said that the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) founding Leader and former President of Maldives, Dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s return to politics should be a major concern for the members of DRP.

Speaking to Miadhu Daily, Prof. Shaheed said that the return of Dictator Gayoom to the political arena is not a concern for the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) but that it is a grave concern for DRP itself. He said that the members of DRP should beware of its founding Leader’s return.

“We are not the least worried of his return. It won’t be a hindrance to our party winning the local council elections. But it would be an advantage on our part. The people now know the difference between then and now. Maldivians will not be deluded by the politically motivated talks of some individuals to achieve political goals. In reality, Dictator Gayoom’s return should be a major concern on the members of DRP,” former Foreign Minister Prof. Shaheed said.

Shaheed further said that it will be “a big joke” if DRP believes that Gayoom can lead them to “safe shores”. He said that he does not believe that the members of DRP will want to be over shadowed by it’s past when the party is brushing off the dust of the past from it.

Prof. Shaheed also said what the people are now seeing that DRP is now losing it’s opposition valor because of the efforts of some to return DRP to its past.

“It will be known from the results of the Council elections that DRP can only succeed without Gayoom. It will also be known that Gayoom cannot open and doors to the future of the party. I mean that MDP will win the majority in the elections,” Prof. Shaheed said.