Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s reform movement, “Maumoon reform movement” (MRM) will not succeed in taking over ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), declared the party's Vice President and Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla.
In the opening ceremony of PPM's new hub “Nayaa Jagaha 2”, Abdul Raheem proclaimed that Gayoom, who was originally the leader of PPM, would not succeed in getting his hands on PPM via the activities of MRM. Stating that the ruling party is now in the hands of its rightful owner, Abdul Raheem stressed that President Abdulla Yameen should remain at PPM's helm for it to exist.
Abdul Raheem noted that PPM had had less than 3,000 members when it faced its first congress. He revealed that Gayoom had at the time shied away from holding the congress, disapproving of hosting one with less than 10,000 members.
Raheem went on to say that Gayoom had handed over the task of strengthening and expanding the party to his now estranged half-brother and incumbent President Yameen, who had travelled across islands to garner more party members unlike the former president.
Abdul Raheem reiterated his endorsement of Yameen for PPM’s presidential candidate, identifying Yameen as the individual who has invested the most time, effort and money into developing the party.
“Which is why the council has unanimously decided on awarding Yameen the ticket. It is a mandatory action that needs to be undertaken by the council so there is no room for any criticism regarding the decision,” said Abdul Raheem
Speaking this Sunday, President Yameen, who is also PPM’s adviser, in response to MRM's efforts had proclaimed that the party has no grounds for reform, and that whichever reform PPM needs has been documented already in the party philosophy.
Gayoom and his faction of supporters from PPM are now working with the opposition coalition
Proven guilty for obstruction of justice, the ex-president is carrying out his one-and-a-half year sentence in Maafushi Prison. Gayoom was arrested on February 5, under accusation of conspiring to illegally overthrowing the government in connection to the Supreme Court's landmark ruling of February 1.
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