News Desk
MALE’ — A senior PNC official has claimed that former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed shifted into opposition against the current government after failing to secure cabinet positions, not out of principle.
Speaking at a PNC rally, PNC MP Shujau said Nasheed had sent representatives to participate in efforts by the then-opposition to unseat former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government, and had worked behind the scenes to criticise the Solih administration on the South Sea boundary issue through figures such as then-Inguraidhoo MP Mohamed Waheed. Shujau said this was the same Nasheed who now presents himself as a defender of the MDP.
He said Nasheed subsequently sought a place in President Muizzu’s cabinet. When that opportunity was not given, Shujau said, Nasheed left for South Africa. He added that there would be no one in Muizzu’s cabinet who intended to compromise Maldivian sovereign interests.
On Jameel, Shujau said he is a deeply self-interested political operator who would not be standing with former President Yameen today had he been offered a cabinet seat. He noted that Jameel and Maleeh Jamal had laughed during a PNF demonstration when calls were made for Yameen’s arrest.
Shujau also addressed the relationship between President Muizzu and Yameen, saying Muizzu has repeatedly advised party and government officials not to respond to anything disparaging Yameen says, and has asked that no dirty remarks be returned in kind.
Nasheed recently rejoined the MDP after apologising for splitting from the party to form The Democrats ahead of the 2023 presidential election. His decision not to support Solih in the second round runoff is widely seen as a factor in the MDP’s loss, handing Muizzu the presidency.
The claims made by Shujau are unverified. Neither Nasheed’s office nor Jameel responded to these for comment.
