Aftermath

The first round of elections is over. I must say, that after a hectic campaign period, with huge levels of sustained stress, it is almost a welcome relief. But not quite. It is not over yet. The real test comes next. The second round.

It was not an easy decision for me to announce my candidacy in the first place. I always knew what I would eventually come up against. My campaign was not just an anti-Maumoon campaign. It was really an anti-establishment campaign. This was reflected very much in the lack of campaign support from the “big boys” to my campaign. In addition, the level of anti-campaigning that was going on against me behind the shadows was something I found very difficult to combat while trying to hold “opposition unity”.

The calls for me to give up my candidacy and join forces with Anni or Hassan was the next challenge. The constant questioning of my position against a single opposition candidate was also difficult to deal with. But I believe that the results have established once and for all that had we done that, the game would have been over by now. By having multiple candidates, we were able to pressure Qayyoom from all directions and we have been able to quantify Qayyoom to 40% from the claimed 90%. Furthermore, it prevented the DRP from honing in on any one candidate in their attack. Next, the opposition was able to get valuable airtime on public broadcast media to be used against the regime. I will still maintain that had I withdrawn my candidacy, Anni would have lost the case against his candidacy in the Supreme Court.

I was always convinced that there would be a second round, and that is when the Alliance would be properly activated. The second round is here. There are two candidates, and one is anti-Qayyoom. The multi-party election has ultimately been reduced to a yes or no referendum regarding Qayyoom’s candidacy. I don’t believe that issues are important at this stage. There is a single objective now. Dislodge the autocracy once and for all. Whatever other issues there may be have to be parked, and resolved later.

As for my candidacy, what did it achieve? Many may say not much. But I say a lot. Firstly, I was able to propose what I believed to the people and see how many Maldivians believed what I believe. The result? There are all of 1382 Maldivians who believe in the rule of law, in pre-school education, a proper education system, in an anti-trust law and a restructuring of the economy. I say this because I was the only candidate who proposed these things. Take away from my total votes my family, my wife’s family, campaign team, my close friends and how many more does that leave? Not much, I suppose. Anyway, it has finally been confirmed that in spite of all the praise I have been getting for “all the good work that Ibra has done for the people” and all the admiration being expressed for “Ibra’s sound arguments and foresight”, only 1382 Maldivians believe that I may be able to execute the Presidency. But I am sure, had I NOT nominated myself, and Qayyoom eventually won the Presidency, many would complain that “Ibra also disappeared from the scene at the most critical moment” and it would be all Ibra’s doing that Qayyoom won the Presidency. At least I can retire from politics now and go back to my academic life with dignity, because the people rejected me big time. Only 1381 people (minus 1 for my vote) can ever question me as to “why I left them in the sea”. But I am sure those 1381 people will understand that when the Maldivian people gave me 0.5% of the vote as opposed to the 16% they gave to Hassan Saeed, and Dr. Shaheed who were critical in propping up the regime at its weakest, I really have to accept what the majority of the people are saying very loudly: “Ibra, we have no time for your fancy talk”.

There was one, and only one ballot box result that really hurt me and confused me. The inmates of jails gave votes for Hassan Saeed, who prosecuted them and got them sentenced to jail on long and unfair terms, and did not give me even one vote. I really ask myself, what did I do wrong in trying to protect the rights of incarcerated people? It has forced me to do a lot of soul searching.

I have been constantly accused that I am Qayyoom’s or Gasim’s or Ilyas’s “boy”. I guess that finally those rumours can now be put to rest.

As I plan my life as an academic and a caring husband and father, I have the deep satisfaction that I have been able to play a critical role in rewriting the Constitution of the Maldives, I have spent nearly 25 years of my life in public service and can retire from it gracefully without a blemish on my record, that I have been able to respond to every call that my nation and my people made for my services to the best of my ability; my conscience is clear. I will be able to look squarely in the mirror in my old age and have no regrets or guilt at what I see. I am at peace.

This is not to say that I do not feel sadness about what I foresee for the future of my country and my people. I see rough seas ahead. I sincerely hope that the MDP will be able to steer us through the tough times ahead.

As for the second round, the critical question for us now is, we have to devise a way of preventing Qayyoom from reclaiming 10% of the vote from Qasim’s 15% and Hassan’s 16% while holding together Anni’s 25%.

It is critical for our nation’s future that Qayyoom be defeated in this election. I will give my best shot to see that happen before I retire from active politics.