Gayoom should be ashamed of himself to speak of Decentralisation- Mujtaba

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ahmed Mujtaba has said that the Main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) founding Leader and former President of Maldives Dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom should be ashamed of himself to speak of Decentralisation.

Speaking at the public rally of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) held at Thaa Atoll . Thimarafushi, Minister of State Mujataba said that the former President Gayoom has tried his utmost to block the way for Maldives to accept Decentralisation.

He said that Gayoom went to such extremes that he removed Mohamed Waheeduddin from Atolls Administrator for trying to advocate the Decentralised form of government.

Mr. Mujtaba said that the first to promote Decentralisation in the Maldives were the members of MDP about 20-22 years ago. He said that the Sangu magazine is an evidence for this.

Minister of State for Home Affairs also said that it was the members of MDP who first drafted the Decentralisation Bill and proposed it to Atolls Ministry. He said that it was MDP Council led by MDP chairperson who tried to remove any obstacle regarding it being held at the Attorney General’s Office.

He also said that with the pressure of MDP, the former regime tried to put a façade in governing about 6 islands with Decentralised system of government. However, the former regime faced great loss because they were insincere in the first place, said Mujtaba.

“We do not see any despot who has the audacity to speak in the political arena after ruling a country with an iron fist for more than 30 years. But this is what we see now in Maldives,” he said.

He appealed Gayoom not to speak of such affairs now when he himself opposed it from being implemented during his rule. He said that this will damage the history of the former President even more.