President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud: Not yet a Hero!

[Abtigiis]

Rituals we seem not to outgrow

 

There are some irritating political idiosyncrasies that we, Somalis, simply seem not to outgrow. As soon as Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected as the new president of Somalia on 10 September 2012, the fawning industry started its work with searing efficiency. Artists, the flag-bearers of this industry, composed stirring songs and obliging media-men started colliding chins for catchy paragraphs from the newly elected President.

 

There is nothing wrong with this evanescent buoyancy. A nation that has endured two decades of turmoil and national despair deserves brief moments of national catharsis. Leaping in joy with maudlin optimism when new men are sworn-in for national leadership, only to be followed by immediate vilifications as soon as these leaders start governing, is an abiding and ductile feature of our national politics.

 

Not only that. We also have this absurd habit of transforming otherwise promising leaders into human political deities through servile flattery and hyperbolic applauses. Pseudo-events and choreographed appearances, sound bites and headlines from newsrooms create a hero out of an ordinary and untested individual, simply on account of his ascent to power, defying the widely held view that leaders are not heroes at the beginning. They become heroes at the end, through their work, their sacrifices, their triumphs, and their accomplishments.

 

The songs, colorful billboards and effusive felicitations soon get into the psyche of these leaders and insulate them from reality. They quickly forget that they are only fallible beings that need other men and women, and more importantly strong institutions, to deliver. They soon get infected with indispensability syndrome and start to think of themselves as the magical Elixir that will single-handedly cure their nation’s chronic illness.

 

Soon enough, these synthetic heroes come face to face with ugly reality. The profligate cheerfulness and euphoria that usually accompanies the election of these new leaders dissolve in a span of months, if not weeks. Having burdened a mere mortal with responsibilities much too onerous for one single man, and having propelled this man beyond his capabilities and appropriate station in life, the cheerleaders soon realize the facileness of their initial exuberance and expectations. The anticlimax sets-in hurriedly, as it becomes apparent that solving Somalia’s problems need more than the wisdom and effort of one man.

 

Then, deja vu’! Faced with mounting discontent and scrutiny, the national leader feels besieged and political survival becomes his sole preoccupation.

 

http://wardheernews.com/Articles_12/Sept/Muktar/25_President_Hassan_Sheikh_Mohamud_not_yet_a_hero.html

 

This also applies to whoever is elected as Prime Minister.

[Abtigiis]

A hint of Indecisiveness?

 

The manner in which the President is handling the selection of the Prime Minister suggests that the President may be trying to hear the ideas of various constituencies and clans before making a decision, but it could also be a hint of a weak and indecisive leader, who is swayed by the opinions of the last counsel. He may nominate a PM in few days’ time, but that can’t expunge the flaws in the approach followed to select a PM. Still, declaring the president ‘indecisive’ simply because he has taken time to decide on a PM is harsh and premature. It is also unfair. This, despite the fact that the President shouldn’t have waited for two solid weeks to refocus the nation’s attention on the real priorities – security and building governance institutions.

 

Yet, what is indisputable is that the President’s handling of the PM selection process is far from reassuring. First, countless advisors and so-called inner circles started calling different personalities asking for CVs and expression of interest, as if this is a job advertisement when it is anything but that.

 

Second, the PM selection became a saga that is distracting everybody from the real issues. The security situation is deteriorating in Mogadishu and there is a clear administrative vacuum. Members of the former government and other administrative bodies are nervous and preoccupied with securing posts in the new government rather than focusing on their tasks.

 

The saga overshadowed the push for Kismayo and other Alshabab strongholds. Just because the President has thirty days to nominate a Prime Minister does not mean he should wait for four weeks to make an announcement. A month is too long for a country in crisis like Somalia and by now the Prime Minister should have been known and the task at hand should have been drafting a work plan for the first 100 days.

 

It can be argued that the President has taken time (a) to consult various clans so that they feel consulted and therefore respected (b) to ensure he gets the right person, because the President will not be able to sack the PM once he nominates.

 

The first reason is acceptable but, by now, it is a common knowledge that the PM would be selected from the ***** clan, because of the 4.5 formula. It would have been better to ask the whole ***** block to send one delegation for consultations, instead of creating unnecessarily rivalry and competition by receiving different sub-clans separately.

 

In fact, the current approach is sowing the seeds of acrimony and bitterness, because sub-clans that feel their recommendations were not accepted would feel aggrieved. The President should have insisted that he has the right to pick any individual as long as he is from the ***** clan. It would have been better if he could say he can pick competent Somali, but the limitations to this are known and understandable, if not acceptable. But at least, if his pool is *****, he should have discouraged various sub-clans from nominating and lobbying for sub-clan candidates. Because he allowed sub-clan competition, he can now be sure he will have a tough time once he makes his PM announcement.

[Abtigiis]

This president has plenty of NGO participatory democracy experience. Ha, let us consult Ngonge, ok it is the turn of Ooba, but where is Mooge? Blessed wax miyaan la waydiineeyn? dee Juxa kama tagni karo! Xitaa Xaaji inaan maqalo soo ma haboona.

 

I think he doesn't have the tempo that somalia requires right now. But God help him.

[oba hiloowlow]

good article Abtigiis it raised some good points, i agree on this one, the president should've handled it in a more proffesional way

 

It can be argued that the President has taken time (a) to consult various clans so that they feel consulted and therefore respected (b) to ensure he gets the right person, because the President will not be able to sack the PM once he nominates.

 

The first reason is acceptable but, by now, it is a common knowledge that the PM would be selected from the ***** clan, because of the 4.5 formula. It would have been better to ask the whole ***** block to send one delegation for consultations, instead of creating unnecessarily rivalry and competition by receiving different sub-clans separately.

[Abtigiis]

lool, add the leaks on Farmaajo to this and you will realize how incompetent the president and his team are!

 

God help Somalia!

[oba hiloowlow]

well inshallah kheyr lets hope for the best

[NGONGE]

oba hiloowlow;873464 wrote:

good article Abtigiis it raised some good points, i agree on this one, the president should've handled it in a more proffesional way

 

It can be argued that the President has taken time (a) to consult various clans so that they feel consulted and therefore respected (b) to ensure he gets the right person, because the President will not be able to sack the PM once he nominates.

 

The first reason is acceptable but, by now, it is a common knowledge that the PM would be selected from the ***** clan, because of the 4.5 formula. It would have been better to ask the whole ***** block to send one delegation for consultations, instead of creating unnecessarily rivalry and competition by receiving different sub-clans separately.

But wasn't that the same exact way Somalis chose their MPs?

[Abtigiis]

The MPs represent constituencies (clan), the PM is expected to represent the whole of the country. By having side meetings with subclans, the whole process is sullied beyong repair. It should have been handled differently, me thinks.

[NGONGE]

^^ But are you certain that these side meetings were about dangling the PM seat in the clans' faces or was it one of reassuring them of the president's impartiality?

 

Like I say, the process for choosing the MPs emboldened the sub-clans to view themselves as separate entities from the actual blocks that make up the 4.5 forumula. If the president spent some time placating all the self important sub-clans BEFORE choosing his MP, I see no harm in the attempt.

 

By all means, sharpen your knife saaxib but give the man a couple more weeks of leeway before you decide to stick it in.

[Abtigiis]

Again, it is a matter of perspective. No viewpoint is right or wrong. But I think the side meetings created unnecesary competition and the President will see the result (bad) very soon!! To me, he should have gone on national TV and have asserted his position forcefully, boiling down the selection to 'an individual' rather than clan or a region! He had a grace period of goodwill!

[Daqane]

Personally I would rather he takes his time in making his decision so that he will own the outcome as much as possible.

 

P.s this is Somali politics there is no grace period...period.

[Somalia]

Abtigiis;873484 wrote:

The MPs represent constituencies (clan), the PM is expected to represent the whole of the country. By having side meetings with subclans, the whole process is sullied beyong repair. It should have been handled differently, me thinks.

That is true, he ought to just let the incumbent continue with the formidable job he has been doing. :eek:

[Taleexi]

We shall wait and see and judge on his performance. Not a hero yet indeed but he has the chance to be one though.

[Duufaan]

Whit the political culture in modish and the amount of corruption is there which the president has being part of it. the facf he lived there most of his life. I do not think he do have broad vision to deal with it.

 

With overwhelmingly mandate Somali people give him. The president and his government are expected action from day one. No need sub clan meeting, it will not benefit anyone and will not help him, in the end of day what matters, is the performance in area of security, justice and economy development.

 

The president needs to make his mine, right now. It is all about the preminister he elects and how he works with him, will be vital for the success of his government. Is he going to choice easy way which is to collect as much wealth he could collect or work for people? People in modish are not carazy for wanting Farmaajo to be PM. It should be some charismatic and he will start first day

[UZTAAD]

Hero, lol I expect very little from him another waste of 4 years