The late elder Statesman of Ghana, Kwame Nkruma once said during his campaign for Ghana Independence:
Our people has every right to govern or misgovern themselves. You cannot impose government they do not choose on them.
Our late Prime Minister, Abdirashid Ali Sharma’arke was quoted as saying under more difficult and war conditions, ” we shall vote with one hand and fight with the other.
We are a traditional society with boasting historic traditional self-government that differentiates us from the rest of Somalia. Today we are talking about a government, democratization, elections etc.
But, asides other public services delivery, can the offices of traditional leaders issue you a travel document or passport? Can the office of a clan elder facilitate the release of Somali prisoner, for example, in Bangladesh? Can they issue an education certificate to a student? Have ever seen a monument built for a tribal leader?
What when have been doing for over twenty years is that we had been handing our elders all the responsibilities for forming our own governments, both national and regional. Is that acceptable anymore? This is not their role in society by the way. As educated, enlightened and thinkers, and as people we have failed Puntland. Let us accept the blame.
We can all see the importance of government in our lives. A government is bigger than me and you, bigger than your family and bigger your own clan or a bunch of clans.
Then, if the government is that important to all of us, isn’t it important to take more care of it than own children? Isn’t it your solemn responsibility to select and vote for responsible leaders that you can trust to run and lead this important public institution?
Whom else would you blame if things go wrong?
Of course, you would say, I never had chance to vote for my candidate?
Isn’t it then our responsibility to make sure that democratic elections happen in Puntland and soon?
We need DDA
(DETRIBALIZATION
OR DECLANIZATION, DEMOCRATIZATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY)
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 