My campaign and, for that matter, my role in government has always been about presenting clarity, speaking honestly, and acting decisively in the best interests of Somalia.
Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully. I cannot run for the highest office in the land, where the hopes and aspirations of the Somali people are invested, without integrity.
Accepting campaign funds that go against the long-term interest of the Somali people would betray all that I hold dear but, even more importantly, the mothers, fathers, and inspiring youth whose interest I have expressed throughout my campaign. Acknowledging this now is in the best interests of the Somali people, those who have worked so hard in the campaign, and it is in the best interests of the country.
I decided to run for President because I believed that I could help push forward a more mature political discourse able to bring together our divided country and forge a path to leverage our common cause to confront the greatest set of challenges we face from want, poverty, and fear. I knew that the most fundamental of them is fear — the fear and mistrust about one another; the very real fear that too many of us have begun to doubt the importance of good governance in bettering the lives and livelihoods of the Somali people; the fear we sometimes feel when it comes to doing the right thing, especially when it runs counter to what is politically convenient amid shallow politics were change has become synonymous with changing an individual rather than the trajectory of the country for the sake of our people.
I’m an optimist; I know that we can reject and overcome these fears and choose to be defined by our ambitions and our ability to achieve them, but this will only be realized when the Somali nation is freed from the shackles of the political elite and enable the public to vote for their leaders.
When all is said and done! The election for president today is much more than a referendum on an individual or an administration. This election is about whether there will be one person one vote in the next election cycle or not, and whether our democracy and governance arrangements, the unity, and territorial integrity of our country will be perfected or it will be pushed to some future government. This election is about whether Violent Extremism will be defeated effectively or not and whether our country’s economy will be opened up credibly and transparently so that the public can trust their government. The truth remains, given the present political discourse marked by the distinct lack of policies presented by the candidates, these milestones are seriously in question.
For this reason, I knew that we would have to be unafraid in how we ran the campaign; we had to run with nothing to lose and ensure we spoke to the Somali public on the key policies that could help change the trajectory of the country and help inspire other candidates to see the election beyond appealing to the interest of MPs and more to the constituents the MPs represented. However, as this election comes to an end, my concern for Somalia and the principles for addressing them will endure. I believe that the principles of democracy, brotherhood, and unity upon which this nation was founded are the only sure guide to realizing the aspiration of the Somali public for a peaceful, prosperous, and united Somalia.
Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully. I cannot run for the highest office in the land, where the hopes and aspirations of the Somali people are invested, without integrity.
Accepting campaign funds that go against the long-term interest of the Somali people would betray all that I hold dear but, even more importantly, the mothers, fathers, and inspiring youth whose interest I have expressed throughout my campaign. Acknowledging this now is in the best interests of the Somali people, those who have worked so hard in the campaign, and it is in the best interests of the country.
I decided to run for President because I believed that I could help push forward a more mature political discourse able to bring together our divided country and forge a path to leverage our common cause to confront the greatest set of challenges we face from want, poverty, and fear. I knew that the most fundamental of them is fear — the fear and mistrust about one another; the very real fear that too many of us have begun to doubt the importance of good governance in bettering the lives and livelihoods of the Somali people; the fear we sometimes feel when it comes to doing the right thing, especially when it runs counter to what is politically convenient amid shallow politics were change has become synonymous with changing an individual rather than the trajectory of the country for the sake of our people.
I’m an optimist; I know that we can reject and overcome these fears and choose to be defined by our ambitions and our ability to achieve them, but this will only be realized when the Somali nation is freed from the shackles of the political elite and enable the public to vote for their leaders.
When all is said and done! The election for president today is much more than a referendum on an individual or an administration. This election is about whether there will be one person one vote in the next election cycle or not, and whether our democracy and governance arrangements, the unity, and territorial integrity of our country will be perfected or it will be pushed to some future government. This election is about whether Violent Extremism will be defeated effectively or not and whether our country’s economy will be opened up credibly and transparently so that the public can trust their government. The truth remains, given the present political discourse marked by the distinct lack of policies presented by the candidates, these milestones are seriously in question.
For this reason, I knew that we would have to be unafraid in how we ran the campaign; we had to run with nothing to lose and ensure we spoke to the Somali public on the key policies that could help change the trajectory of the country and help inspire other candidates to see the election beyond appealing to the interest of MPs and more to the constituents the MPs represented. However, as this election comes to an end, my concern for Somalia and the principles for addressing them will endure. I believe that the principles of democracy, brotherhood, and unity upon which this nation was founded are the only sure guide to realizing the aspiration of the Somali public for a peaceful, prosperous, and united Somalia.
dani will make it rain on them Xildhiban
