Chief government lawmaker Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik on Thursday refused to comment on his Tweet which largely described incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom as a "benevolent dictator."
"I would definitely love to go any length to safeguard this Islamic Nation from Terrorists, Traitors, and Secular Agents . Some times a benevolent “Dictator” is far more better, to Safe Guard the Nation and maintaining the rule of law, than a democratically elected fool," Nihan had said in his Tweet.
Though the Villi-Maafannu lawmaker did not name the intended target of his dig, he was clearly referring to a Tweet by South-Hithadhoo MP Ali Nizar.
"Dictators rise to power by democratic elections, but when elected, they change the political system to ensure that no one else will challenge him, prohibiting all opposition activities, until they eventually cancel free Election. And @ahmed_nihan is assisting a way for it," Nizar's Tweet read.
During a press conference on Thursday the Villi-Maafannu lawmaker refused to explain his Tweet insisting that he was unfazed by the criticism or the interpretation of his comment.
