Gasim’s silly and immature ultimatum to the government!

Those of us who have been following the reform movement would know that at various stages of this evolving movement, it was Gasim Ibrahim who has continuously acted on selfish ways which weakened the movement. Gasim always pretends to be a reformist but when he had the chance to lead the movement (as the head of the MDP), he chose to join dictator Gayyoom’s ruling DRP.

Gasim joined the MDP-alliance only when he feared that a Gayyoom-win could be devastating for his business and for himself personally. When the MDP-Alliance won the election, Gasim was given (as agreed) the influential position of Home Minister. But just as he messed his appointment as Finance Minister of Gayyoom, Gasim messed his appointment as Home Minister of the new government too.

His record as a Finance Minster was terrible and his record as the Home Minister show his childish and immature side. God help us if this man somehow becomes our President. Now Gasim and his Jumhooree Alliance has given an ultimatum of 48 hours to the new government (of which Gasim is also an alliance member)! Gasim’s Jumhooree Alliance is accusing President Nasheed of not honoring his pre-election promise of giving 30% of all political posts to members of the Jumhooree Alliance. In a tit-for-tat war of words, MDP official (Zaki) has said that Gasim hasn’t honored his promise of sharing 30% of the campaign expenses of the Alliance.

The fact of the matter is that even if President Nasheed hasn’t stuck to the letter of his agreement with the Jumhooree Alliance, Nasheed has given some influential posts to the Jumhooree Alliance. To whine and protest and give childish ultimatums at a time when the country is facing the biggest economic downturn for decades shows that Gasim is like a spoilt kid who is jealous that his friend got a toy that he himself didn’t get.

Even if Gasim and the Jumhooree Alliance have a legitimate case against the new government, this isn’t the right time to give this sort of ultimatum which could be interpreted as a ploy to weaken the new president and create chaos.

Some say that Gasim is now regularly meeting his old friend Ilyas Ibrahim (ex-dictator Gayyoom’s influential brother in law). Does this mean that Gasim and Gayyoom have kissed and made up after their recent political differences? As long as Gasim is with Ilyas and Gayyoom he cannot be taken as being on the side of the ordinary people. How can any decent politician claim to be working for the people if he has links to an ex-regime that sucked our blood for 30 years?

Gasim’s role in the DRP (as Finance Minister) and his role in the new government have shown what an immature politician he is. This also shows his miscalculations and childish whining. Maldivians would be fools to elect this man as even a member of parliament, leave alone as president!

As for other members of the Jumhooree Alliance (i.e. Adhaalath Party and Monaza Naeem), I simply cannot comprehend that Adhaalath Party could leave the ruling alliance and side with Gasim even if he decides to leave the alliance after the 48-hour-ultimatum. The interesting and heartwarming developments brought to the religious sphere by Adhaalath Party as a member of the ruling alliance, would only strengthen Adhaalath Party in the future. If they throw all that away to side with an immature and volatile politician such as Gasim, it would only weaken Adhaalath. My humble advice to Gasim would be: build on your strengths and in business and give-up the political ambitions which could ultimately weaken your business and serve no purpose for you or the nation.

No one is saying that the new government is faultless or perfect. Of course president Nasheed and his government have a number of issues that they need to readdress, but the fact of the matter is that the ultimatum given to the new government by Gasim would only strengthen the government ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and show the Maldivian people what a good business man Gasim is and what a silly and immature politician he is!