By M.A. Egge
The President-elect Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, popularly known as Irro, who has just emerged the victor in a triumphant unprecedented landslide win in the just declared elections results has paid a special tribute to the family of the departed former Head of State the late Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo by asking his supporters to desist from frenzy and wild celebrations as the country is in mourning.
He described the elections as one that was a win for both the people and the nation of Somaliland that that ran on the platform of unity and solidarity for prosperity in what has been perceived as a political wind of change that had gripped the nation.
The presidential elections and political party results that were preliminarily announced by the National Electoral Commission came 22 barely hours after the late 4th president of the nation was laid to rest.
The President-elect once again consoled the members of the family and relatives and Somalilanders at large on the demise of the late president, as he held his first maiden address to the nation, following the triumph of both his candidature and that of his political party.
He described the just concluded elections as a win and triumph for the people and the nation of Somaliland and at the same time a plus for the democratization processes that have matured in the country.
He hailed his predecessor, H.E. President Musa Bihi Abdi for presiding over the facilitation and the holding of a very free and fair election that has been completely incident free.
The incoming head of state noted that there will be no intimidation anymore as far as freedom of speech is concerned hence there would be no polarization of the citizenry as “we” and “them”, hence attributed the triumph of the elections to both the people and nation of Somaliland.
He thanked and paid tribute to the NEC and the members of the traditional leaders for always resolving issues in a conciliatory manner and traditions that has made Somaliland a house-hold name in the global map as home-made traditional pacifiers.
Similarly he thanked the international observers, coalition alliances of WADDANI, KAAH and BARWAQO; he also praised and congratulated the emerging three new official political parties who shall have operational mandate for the next ten years, viz. WADDANI, KAAH and KULMIYE.
He urged the populaces to foster tranquility and bond of brethren-ship hence turn towards building the nation to newer and further great heights.
As the challenger, the president-elect garnered 63.92% of the votes cast, defeating the incumbent ruling Kulmiye Party President Musa Bihi Abdi who received 34.81%.
The UCID party, with a dismal 0.74%, lost its status as an official political party, and was replaced by the Kaah organization, according to Somaliland’s election laws.