Nasheed hits back: Being popular isn’t my fault

Former Maldivian President and Leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Nasheed has declared being the popular choice among MDP members wasn’t his fault, hitting back at President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s comments that MDP circumambulated around one person.

“In our opposition party, we see circumambulation around one person. With just one Kaaba, they circumambulate around one person. There is no end, center or hope in that,” said

President Yameen, during a function by the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives on Wednesday, February 8.

Nasheed hit back at the comments, declaring during a press conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, this Thursday, that it wasn’t his fault he was the popular choice in MDP.

“It’s not my fault, is it? That some people support me?” said Nasheed.

He said that it was sad President Yameen did not have the support of the general population, or his own party.

President Yameen, in his comments on Wednesday, said that a political party shouldn’t be about one person. He said said that every political party must accept the rise of other political leaders. And that each party must adhere to its policies, bodies and beliefs instead of focusing on one person.

“The party belongs to its common members. The common members have set certain policies and have elected representatives to ensure everything is done according to policy,” said President Yameen.