Abdi Ismail Samatar, a true son of Somalia

[QabiilDiid]

Abdi Ismail Samatar

University of Minnesota

 

This note reflects on the quality of the Prime Minister’s leadership in the context of the country’s political history and the demands of the present.

 

Many Somalis outside the warlord world and mercenary politics hoped and prayed that Mr. Mohamed Ali Geedi’s appointment as Prime Minister would be different from previous / current crop of mindless leaders despite the fact that a warlord vacated the seat in parliament for him to be appointed PM. The public’s wish was that he would usher leadership anchored on integrity and common cause since he was a veterinarian who was not implicated in the sectarian violence of the past two decades. Most Somalis were eager to support him, without personal gain, in any way they could in order to boost his political and social base provided he led by example. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister never bothered to translate this goodwill into a national movement. He even rejected the consul and labor of independent minded professionals from his own region and has instead endeared himself with corrupt partners and a regime of a neighboring country. The PM’s contribution has been crass rhetoric devoid of words and deeds that exude reconciliatory and inclusive national agenda. Consequently, a precious opportunity to turn Somali politics around in order to serve our grieved people is being lost.

 

Mr. Geedi’s leadership style contrasts sharply with an earlier statesmanship in our country’s history which most young Somalis may not know about and others may have forgotten. When Aden Abdulle Osman was Somalia’ democratic president (1960-67) he pioneered a style of leadership that is yet to be emulated. His motto was that Somalia’s national interest was (is) distinct from the personal concerns of a leader and consensus was the appropriate modus operandi of government, particularly when fundamental national issues were at stake. This meant that he had to be deliberative in selecting premiers and then stay alert at the constitutional switch. His respect for the division of powers and labor enunciated in the constitution was unassailable. Finally, he tried to appoint individuals to the premiership who had the talent and courage to disagree with him when they had to do so rather than appointing sycophants. Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and Abdirazak Haji Hussen were such premiers. No other Somali national or regional leader has upheld these standards since Aden and his Prime Minister, Abdirazak, left office in 1967. The only loyalty they had was to the country, the oath of the office, and to the constitution. Aden and the prime ministers strove to live by that edict. Upholding the oath of Office and leading by example has earned them the respect and admiration of the vast majority of thinking and caring citizens. It would have been impossible for either the president or his prime ministers to make unilateral announcements that contravene the Constitution and the laws of the Republic.

 

In addition to their constitutional rectitude, Aden and his prime ministers guarded their office’s integrity and personal dignity, particularly when they dealt with foreign leaders. One instance, which few people know about, demonstrates the high standards Aden and his PMs set during their tenure. Haile Seilasse, the late Ethiopian ruler, invited President Aden to travel with him on his private plane to that year’s OAU conference. Aden, with the consent of his prime minister, thanked Haile for the offer but declined to take the ride as he recognized the political trap behind the invitation and the irreparable damage his acceptance would have done to the presidency’s luster and the bond between the office and the public. Such thoughtful considerations and practices are at odds with the attitudes of currents leaders who relish and lust for such humiliating “privileges.â€

 

The signs of our time are many (but I will only cite three at this moment) and at variance with the aforementioned ethics and standards. First, the deliberative approach to governing public affairs and this regime are oxymoronic. This Prime Minister’s latest gaffe on the northern region (“Somalilandâ€) and other issues is the most egregious breach of the dignity of his office and a treasonable violation of the charter. It is unimaginable for a sitting Prime Minister to declare, on an international radio broadcast, a policy statement that advocates the nation’s dismemberment. Such a blunder reveals that he either does not comprehend the significance of his public pronouncements as head of government or worse that he has consciously decided to betray the cause of the nation. Second, TFG leaders’ unwilling attitude to heed the voice and sentiments of the Somali people, their enthusiasm to accept demeaning personal “privileges†from the Ethiopian regime that has openly engineered and continue to reinforce our country’s disintegration, and the former’s practice of briefing Addis Ababa about Somali agenda before anyone else is unparalleled in post colonial history. Third, the PM’s habit of signing dubious agreements and contracts with all types of suspect actors, and without serious debates in parliament bodes ill for the transition, the balance of power among the three branches of government, and the country’s future.

 

Collectively, the PM’s and his close colleagues’ behaviors and practices privilege their personal fortune (power, wealth, and sectarian agenda) above everything else including the fate and future of our people and have turned ineptitude and betrayal into art. Bereft of inclusive ideas and convictions that can resurrect Somali ideals, the PM and his cohort has succumbed to the patronage of the Ethiopian regime that lacks legitimacy from its own population. Betrayal of the national interest, venality, and incompetence which are the hallmarks of this regime distinguish it from any national government –democratic or dictatorial- Somalis have had in modern history.

 

A comment is warranted about the Mogadishu based warlords lest this essay is misconstrued as an endorsement of their stance. If the PM and his cabal are incompetent, fraudulent, and disloyal, the warlords of Mogadishu are the embodiment of avarice. Their myopic, self-serving, and cruel gimmickry is exactly what has exposed our country to Ethiopian exploits, and condemned the Somali people to divisiveness, misery, and humiliation. They are the strategic obstacle to the nation’s cause.

 

Finally, the absence of a committed and deliberative leadership at senior levels, so central to the management of democratic and progressive public affairs, has bedeviled our nation for nearly three decades. Civic groups and individuals who claim to be better than sectarian political entrepreneurs have not shown the courage and commitment to a national vision that would cast warlordism and venal politics to history’s refuse bin. As the South African Liberation movement used to say “now is the time.†If the transition is not to lead to a calamity worse than the nightmare of the past, the civics must rise to the occasion and create quality political organization that can earn the respect and support of the population and insure the transition’s success.

[xiinfaniin]

^^^Thanks for the post.

Where is the source for this? It would be helpful.

[miles-militis]

Had I not known what is troubling the good professor of MN, who never seizes to surprise me with his multiple antiques, I would have rushed in head first with similar false sentiment as our friend Neyruus. Yet another hidden trait of the politician-wannabe-professor coming to the fore.

[Yeniceri]

A comment is warranted about the Mogadishu based warlords lest this essay is misconstrued as an endorsement of their stance.

If the PM and his cabal are incompetent, fraudulent, and disloyal, the warlords of Mogadishu are the mbodiment of avarice

. Their myopic, self-serving, and cruel gimmickry is exactly what has exposed our country to Ethiopian exploits, and condemned the Somali people to divisiveness, misery, and humiliation. They are

the strategic obstacle

to the nation’s cause.

Prof Abdi Samater is right on the money. If you actually read between the lines, he's endorsing neither the premier nor the Mogadishu-based warlords. To him, both are two sides of the same coin: inept leaders, who, as he put it, have "exposed our country to Ethiopian exploits." I hope that Premier Ali Geedi can learn from the advice of members of our educated class who were alive during the 1960s and who witnessed a form of Somali self-rule that has yet to be matched. I believe the professor was especially effective in conjuring up Somali heroes of an era long gone - names like Adan Cadde and Abdirizaq Haji Hussein are brought up to remind today's Somali premier, Prof Ali Geedi, that the weight of the nation is on his shoulders, and every sentence or political act will have reverberations for now and for the future. Perhaps Premier Geedi ought to listen to the professor's advice.

 

As far as the source goes, it posted on a couple of websites (Hiiraan Online & SomaliWeyn):

 

http://www.hiiraan.com/op/eng/2005/dec/Abdi_Samater061205.htm

 

http://www.somaliweyn.com/pages/poems/Dec_05/6Dec7.htm

 

Neyruus:

 

You forgot to paste the last paragraph of the article on this thread. I've taken the liberty to post it below:

 

The BBC Monitoring Service reported that Mr. Geedi recently went to Addis Ababa after his visit to the EU, and briefed the Ethiopian Prime Minister before he saw the Somali President, his cabinet, and members of parliament.

This was done in secrecy

.

Conspiracy or credible? Remains to be seen.

[QabiilDiid]

Maxaa ka fiican in aad laba borofasoor oo waalaala ah ee waddaninimad Soomaalinimada ehi ay harqirsay in aad la qaadaan heesta sanadka oo uu Axmed ku soo gabagabeeyey fariintii uu sanadka cusub u dirayo dadka Soomaaliyeed khaas ahaan kuwa horseedaya in ay dadka Soomaaliyeed ee sinna u kala gu'ikarin in ay kala googooyaan Ee uu ugu soo gubiyey BBCda 12/30/2005....

 

Waan heesayaayee******sanad waliba hoodiyo

Hawl iyo dhibaatiyo****wuxuu hadimo leeyahay

Waa laga helaayoo******hadhow lagu xusuustaa

 

Kii noo hagaagee******noqo loo han weyn yahay

Kii noo hagaagee******noqo loo han weyn yahay

Kii noo hagaagee******noqo loo han weyn yahay

 

Qaar kaa horeeyoo*****hodanaa na dhaafee

Halkii laguugu mahad naqay****ka habaabi mayside

Kuwa haryna dabadaa******waa la hubsan doonaa

 

Kii noo hagaagee*****noqo loo han weyn yahay

Kii noo hagaagee*****noqo loo han weyn yahay

Kii noo hagaagee*****noqo loo han weyn yahay

 

Waan ku haybinaynee****Ilaahey ha kaa dhigo

Adna hogol da'aysiyo***habeen dhalad barwaaqo

Nimco la harsan dooniyo***cawo lagu nageedee

 

Kii noo hagaagee*****noqo loo han weyn yahay

Kii noo hagaagee*****noqo loo han weyn yahay

Kii noo hagaagee*****noqo loo han weyn yahay

 

 

*********Maxamed Saleebaan Tubeec************

 

Maqal ahaan: http://www.somalicenter.com/heeso/sannad.ram

[Alle-ubaahne]

What happen to this great man of ours? I longed to hear from him, indeed!

 

War meel ku sheega Borofosoorkii duceysnaa!

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Prof. Samatar: ma jiraan wax la yirahdo dowlad oo ka jirta dalka Soomaaliya

 

Aayaha.com, Isniin, 26, Maarso 2007 - Qaar ka tirsan aqoonyahanda Soomaaliyeed ee ku dhaqan dibadda ayaa sheegay in xiligan aaney jirin wax dowlad ah oo ka jira gudaha dalka Soomaaliya.

 

Pro. Cabdi Ismaaciil Samatar oo ka mid ah aqoonyahanada Soomaaliyeed ee ku nool dalka dibaddiisa ayaa muujiyey sida uu uga xun yahay waxa ka dhacaya gudaha dalka Soomaaliya, isagoo sheegay in ay jiraan koox yar oo qowleysato ah oo aan ka nexeynin danta shacabka Soomaaliyeed.

 

Cabdi Ismaaciil samatar ayaa sheegay isagoo wareysi siinayey Idaacadda Simba in beesha caalamku aaney ka damqaneynin dhibaatooyinka ay shacabka Soomaaliyeed ku hayaan ciidamada cadowga Itoobiya,kuwaas oo uu sheegay in ay doonayaan in ay gumeysi galiyaan shacabka Soomaaliyeed,isagoo wax laga xumaado ku tilmaamay joogitaanka ciidamada Itoobiya ee gudaha dalka Soomaaliya.

 

Professor-ka ayaa sheegay in ciidamada Itoobiya ay dalka u soo horseedeen oo ay soo galiyeen kuwa qaa'inul wadaniin ah oo gatay diinta, dadka iyo dalka, kuwaas oo uu sheegay in ay raali ka yihiin in la kala gooy-gooyo dalka Soomaaliya.

 

Waxa uu ka hadlay Professor-ku waxyaabaha xiligaan ka ka dhacaya dalka Soomaaliya, isagoo taageero weyn u muujiyey shacabka Soomaaliyeed oo ay horkacayaan xoogagga xaq u dirirka dagaalada ay kala hortagaayaan cadowga itoobiya ee doonaya in ay gumeysiga galiyaan shacabka Soomaaliyeed.

 

Si kastaba ha ahatee hadalka Professor-ka ayaa ku soo beegmaya xilli ay sii xoogeysanayaan kacdoonka ay shacabka Soomaaliyeed ku doonayaan in ay isaga dulqaadan heeryada gumeysiga.

 

Xigasho

[Jacaylbaro]

The biggest looser in the horn is that so called Proffessor ,,,,,,,, Walaahi i feel sorry for him and his brother ........... at least they are good in writing and they both know how to use Internet ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

Of course no one can denay their aqoon and knowledge but they don't know how to transfer this to their poeple ,,,,,,,,,,,,, let them enjoy the life in MN and Europe ,,,,,,,

[Alle-ubaahne]

^^What you call losers (for instance, Sh. shariif, Prof. Samater, Xiin, Alle-ubaahne) are known to me as successful and what you call successful (for instance, Yeey, Riyoole Kaahin, General Duke, Yalaxow, Aideed Jr.) are known to us losers.

 

So, I say, is a prime contrast in definitions!

 

You should kill yourself before your body expires, the same way your brain had expired! lol

[Jacaylbaro]

Eesh calaa isku dhexkaris ,,,,,,,,,,, so you think yourself as same level as Sh. Sharif and Samater ???? ,,,,,,, waar ninku qab weynaa

[Hunguri]

loooooool@ isku dhex karis . I always knew, that you were a cook at Xaraf Restaurent. Alla muxuu isku dhex karis ku tuuray . loool !!! Jbro, makula tahay inaynu xikmadeenaa iska akhrisano. Xikmad ayaa meesha ka burqanysee lool

[Jacaylbaro]

Walee waxaan ku qoslay dee isku dhexkariskan uu inoo walaaqay odaygu ,,, ,, dad aan is lahayn buu isku kabkabayaa

[Hunguri]

Jacaylbro, truelly speaking. The Samatars have no political scope. They just become too much bussy with them selves. Both of them think as though they are the only two brothers in the whole Somali community. They criticize each and every political hope that emerges. Waar labada nin i dhaafi

[Jacaylbaro]

All what they want is a seat ,,, i remember few years back when they were in Hargeisa sneaking to Cigaal to ask for some Ministerial seats ,,,,,

[Fabregas]

Originally posted by Alle-ubaahne:

^^What you call losers (for instance, Sh. shariif, Prof. Samater, Xiin, Alle-ubaahne) are known to me as successful and what you call successful (for instance, Yeey, Riyoole Kaahin, General Duke, Yalaxow, Aideed Jr.) are known to us losers.

 

So, I say, is a prime contrast in definitions!

 

You should kill yourself before your body expires, the same way your brain had expired! lol

Ala maxaan qoslay