Former Male' City Council member Ibrahim Shujau stated last night that sitting President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had made many an effort for the development of Male' during his time as mayor, but as that development has come to a halt with current MDP Mayor Adam Azim, PNC's candidate for Mayor Moosa Ali Jaleel is to pick up where President Muizzu left off if he gets elected.
While Shujau was still a member of Male' City Council, he worked very closely with President Muizzu while he was mayor, with Shujau stating the aforementioned during the opening ceremony of PNC's hub in the South Hulhumale' constituency ahead of the Local Council Election on 4th April.
During the ceremony, Shujau said that President Muizzu's vision during his time as Mayor of Male' has not seen any progress since Mayor Adam Azim took on the position, with Jaleel's manifesto being the same as the President's.
"The Male' City Council was plunged into darkness after President Muizzu left his position as Mayor of Male'," said Shujau.
According to Shujau, Male' City Council did not get plunged into darkness after President Muizzu resigned from the mayoral post because the councilors were not doing their jobs. He said that it is because of how the system is set up, even though the councilors do the work, the final decision of the council is left up to the mayor.
"Members of the South Hulhumale' constituency need to know that just their decision today to elect Ubaid will not bring this to an end. Moosa Ali Jaleel needs to be elected as Mayor of Male' along with Ubaid being elected. If you do not do this, the situation faced by Hulhumale' PNC Councilor Aiman today will occur," said Shujau.
The Male' City Council has a PNC super majority, with Shujau raising the question as to whether Aiman has been actively working or not and whether work is being done in the council.
He stated that if Aiman's practical work was being finished by the council, the carpet at the Hulhumale' Grand Mosque would have been laid by the time Ramadan started.
According to Shujau, the mosque fund for the repair of the mosque was established and allocated six months before Ramadan started when President Muizzu was mayor. Shujau said that the work to repair mosques was started ahead of time under President Muizzu's leadership.
"Aiman does work. But is that how things proceed? The carpet at the Hulhumale' Grand Mosque, the symbol of Hulhumale', was not laid out on the first day of Ramadan. The mosque is the first thing that comes up when a picture of Hulhumale' is searched."
Shujau said that the development of the mosque was split into phases when President Muizzu was mayor.
Shujau went onto say that when Male' City Council's 2023 budget was passed during President Muizzu's time as mayor, the repair of the mosque was determined as per the wishes of Hulhumale' residents, which was to keep the area to perform ablution and toilets outside of the mosque.
"The blueprints were also completed. 2023 has come and gone. So has 2024 and 2025, and we are now in 2026, still wondering if it will be completed or not," said Shujau, indirectly referring to Mayor Adam Azim.
"Aiman did the work. But it is not moving forward because the mayor is incapable. That is why Moosa Ali Jaleel needs to be elected as Mayor of Male' alongside Ubaid. Then the system will operate well, dear citizens."
During his speech last night, Shujau highlighted President Muizzu's achievements during his time as mayor and the obstacles put forward by the MDP government at the time.
He stated that the system is not the issue but the leaders who are elected to run the system.
Important points from Shujau's speech:
- The meetings held by the Male' City Council were broadcast live when President Muizzu was mayor, for the purpose of transparency.
- A Strategic Action Plan was formed, which included the concerns of MDP councilors.
- The first Land Use Plan for Male' was formulated by gathering opinions and holding discussions in an initiative that was beyond the legal requirement. However, Shujau said that the Land Use Plan was being held by the MDP government until President Muizzu took office.
- Public town hall meetings as described by law were held to include everyone. Shujau said that loudspeakers were used to extend invitations for the meetings.
- A 75,000 square foot plot was allocated near the Hulhumale' Cemetery to relocate the Male' Prison near Dharumavantha School. According to Shujau, the Male' City Council, which was MDP-centric, did not move forward with the request for days on end.
"That is why Dharumavantha School is operating there now. That is the quality of our President," said Shujau.
