Ibra launches presidential campaign

Promising not to spend even a single cent from his own pocket to buy votes or to gain an unfair advantage in the oncoming presidential elections Ibrahim Ismail MP for Male’ as well as Leader of Social Liberal Party Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) launched his presidential campaign held at Dharubaaruge last Monday night.

Speaking at the ceremony Ibra said, so far there has never been a free and fair election held at in the country. He said if the oncoming presidential election is held impartially in a manner that is free and fair and if President Gayoom then wins the elections he would be too glad to accept it.

“If President Gayoom wins without exerting influence and pressure I would welcome and accept it as then it would be the people’s wish, their decision. But then that means I will have to try and sell my ideas and thoughts to the people once more, I will have to try and change their way of thinking, or else I will have to wait until the thinking of the majority of the people change, or accept the fact that my thinking is different from that of the majority, or move to somewhere else, migrate to another country may be. I don’t believe even if President Gayoom wins with a huge majority, he would maintain justice in the country” Ibra said.

Ibra who launched his campaign under the slogan “we can bring change; we will bring change” also talked about the pain and torture inflicted on the people during the rule of President Gayoom. He said it is fact that will never change. He said the people in the recent past were afraid to voice their opinion against the government for fear of harsh reprisals. He pointed that this fear led the country to its present status quo.

MP for Male’ Ibra spelled out the priorities of a government led by him. He said eradication of the dangers of drug abuse being faced with the country as well as improving the quality and standard of education and health care would be his top priorities. In this regard he promised to spend as much as 20% of the national budget on education. He also pledged to establish a fair and impartial judiciary in the country.