Former President Mohamed Nasheed pictured at the airport in Sri Lanka. PHOTO/TWITTER
Former President Mohamed Nasheed on Tuesday declared that national development cannot be brought about by force against the local councils, countering recent remarks made by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
The president had slammed the opposition during his address at a ruling coalition rally late Monday, warning that no one must impede national development despite main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) succeeding the majority of local council seats.
Former President Nasheed hit back at the remark in a tweet that read, “Development cannot be an imposition of autocratic will by force, but a process achieved through democratic, decentralised structures.”
In his first public speaking appearance following the government’s massive defeat in the Local Council Elections, President Yameen had declared that the government will proceed with its major development projects with or without the cooperation of MDP controlled local councils.
The president had further noted that previous MDP councils had impeded various government projects and highlighted a few examples during the ruling coalition rally.