Relevant members knew of Anni’s meeting - Hamid

27 October 2007
Report: Uken

MDP Secretary General Hamid Abdul Gafoor has revealed that all relevant parties of MDP were aware that the party Chairperson held discussions at the President’s Office. Hamid made the statement to Velidhoo News, when asked about the growing discontent within party members on Chairperson Anni’s recent discussions in President’s office.

Hamid rejected the allegations the MDP Chairperson, Anni, held discussions with the President Office Minister Aneesa Ahmed without the party’s knowledge and said “it was me who took him to the meeting”. “He should have held the meeting long before, Anni is too far behind” Hamid expressed his opinion.

Expressing his displeasure on the discussions, member of the Executive Council of MDP, Shuaib Ali, Furahani, said that MDP is not a one man party and that Anni could have gone about it in a different manner. The decision not to meet President Gayoom was taken inline with Anni’s thinking said a frustrated Shuaib. He further said that autocratic decisions is not inline with democratic principles.

“Anni’s actions within the MDP are like President Maumoon’s actions in governing the country, he takes decisions without consulting anybody and ignores party procedure” said Shuaib. He also called on Chairperson Anni to amend his ways.

MDP Executive Council member Ibrahim Didi says he does not believe a situation may arise that calls for MDP leader to hold emergency meeting with President Gayoom or any other senior official. He added that Anni’s actions prove that Anni is not such a democratically inclined person.

Anni justified his meeting with Aneesa saying that discussions were held not only on expediting the constitutional reform but also on the release of more than 700 MDP members arrested by police on different occasions.

MDP President Dr.Mohamed Munnawar speaking to Velidhoo News on 22 of this month said that it is difficult to believe that Anni would hold talks with an appointee of the President. He said that he was not informed of any such meeting.

“Chairperson of the party, on behalf of the party, cannot hold discussions without first meeting the national governing council of the party” said Dr.Munnawar.

When contacted by Velidhoo News on the issue, Anni, did not deny having met Aneesa but he refused to offer any comment. Anni further expressed his displeasure on the news item printed in Velidhoo News of 22 October.

Speaking at the 45 Executive Council meeting Chairperson Anni said that his discussions with President Office Minister Aneesa Ahmed were not done in secret but it was carried in accordance with the rules and procedures governing the party.