By M.A. Egge
Traditional leaders, intellectuals and eminent personalities of Sool, Sanaag and Buhoodle regions spoke strongly on the future of the nation and against the stance taken by the opposition parties UCID and WADDANI of not recognizing the administration of the day.
They accused the opposition parties of refusing to participate in the forthcoming political party elections.
They clearly stated that they acknowledged the current government and the president of the country and that they would not accept a situation of a leadership vacuum in the country or the absence of governance.
They observed that it was regrettable that the opposition parties say that the country can only hold the presidential election, something they opposed maintaining that the elections that they are ready to participate in are that of the political parties.
“It is only after the political parties are held in our areas of Sool, Sanaag and Buhoodle that the presidential one can be held thereafter”, they categorically said.
Constitutionally the only three top emerging political parties are mandated to vie for the presidency, hence have a period of ten-year tenure of being the national official political parties.
They ruled out the possibility of having only the current official political parties participate in presidential elections in their backyard.
The traditional leaders who held a press conference on Wednesday in Lasaanood, the capital of Sool region, also urged the prioritizing of peaceful stability and avoidance of unwarranted words yhat would render the people asunder. They supported the President H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi’s sentiments that Somaliland belonged to all communities and that equal chances are availed to all to ascend to the top post in the country.
Amongst the traditional leaders who spoke at the press conference were Aqil Salad Husen Bide, Aqil Abdi Hassan Nur and Chief Aqil Kayse Mohamud Indhotaag.
This was an unprecedented resolution from the eastern region leaders to speak on the political parties issues.
They repeatedly stressed the need of upholding the rule of law and adherence of the national constitution.
Decide today if the unions are rejected and we, the three parties, reject it, there can be something between us and the elections of the unions will be held and we will also accept the