Parliament Speaker and former close aide of ex-president Abdulla Yameen has criticized YAmeen, describing him as lazy and vindictive.
In an interview with Youth Minister Ibrahim Waheed (Asward)’s Sangu TV on Tuesday, Abdul Raheem, who is also the Chairperson of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), harshly criticized President Yameen in a way he has never done in the past. This comes while Yameen and senior leaders of his party, the People’s National Front (PNF), continue to relentlessly criticize Abdul Raheem during their serial rallies.
During the interview, Abdul Raheem, who previously admired Yameen, detailed how their differences emerged and why he lost faith in the former president. He said that he once viewed Yameen as a smart and intelligent leader but has since realized that Yameen lacks political knowledge.
Abdul Raheem, who was one of Yameen’s most trusted allies in the past, said when Yameen’s candidacy for the presidential election was jeopardized, Yameen could not tolerate the idea of someone else leading the country more effectively than he did. He expressed surprise at Yameen’s arrogance and inability to accept the success of others.
"President Yameen cannot bear to see someone else govern; his eyes and heart cannot tolerate another person shaping policies better than him. That’s where his dissatisfactions stem from," Abdul Raheem stated.
Describing President Yameen as a lazy leader who does not have the people's support, Abdul Raheem said Yameen's first party, People's Alliance (PA) was not formed by Yameen's efforts. The now-dissolved PA was given a political platform due to the hard work of Yameen's former close associates such as Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ahmed Nazim and Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, he said.
Abdul Raheem went on to state that Yameen won the 2013 presidential ticket through the hard work of the former president and Yameen's half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and his children. However, Yameen ultimately betrayed those who supported his rise to power, Abdul Raheem said.
Abdul Raheem explained that he lost his love and trust in Yameen when Yameen ordered his party and supporters to boycott the last presidential election after his candidacy was rejected. Although he had previously claimed Yameen was an individual who possessed admirable patriotic spirits, Yameen's conduct and actions during the election convinced him to conclude otherwise, he added.
"President Yameen had a selfish and vain love for himself. At that point, he lost all the respect and admiration I had for him," he said.
