I will visit Addu and not pay heed to any warnings, says President

Abbas Adil Riza, the Spokesperson of the President’s Office, has said today the President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik would go ahead with plans of his visit to Addu City on the coming Sunday, heedless of any warnings.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed and his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have issued warnings, asking President Waheed not to set foot in Addu City, which has a large number of MDP supporters.

Spokesperson Adil said that the Government would not be cowed by attempts of some people to undermine peace and order in the country.

“Speaking in the mass rally yesterday, the President himself assured us that he would not be bullied by any threats or warnings, and that he would do anything that he should do in discharging his duties and responsibilities to the nation as President”, said Adil. “Therefore, he will visit Addu City as planned”, he assured.

Adil also accused Nasheed and his MDP of trying to undermine the real interests of the nation at a time when all the legal authorities and the people in the country, and even the international community, have accepted Dr. Waheed’s Government as constitutionally established and lawfully in place. He said that the security services would not hesitate to do anything they have to do in order to keep law and order in the Maldives.

MDP leader Nasheed’s warnings against President Waheed not to visit Addu first came on the night of last Thursday, at an MDP gathering at Addu City. “It would not be prudent for Waheed to set his foot here in Addu City, so I am sincerely asking him, do not come here”, Nasheed had said.

Abdullah “Saabe” Saadiq, the Mayor of Addu City, a hardcore member of MDP said that the City Council, having an all-MDP membership, had been notified of the President’s visit tomorrow. He then said that “Addu City Council would extend no cooperation to a gang of people who are not lawfully in authority”.