President Solih calls on opponents to rally to campaign instead of staying indoors

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih speaks at a campaign rally in Sh. Feydhoo on August 1, 2023. (Photo/MDP)

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Tuesday, has called on his opponents in the presidential elections to rally to campaign instead of staying in the comforts of their ‘cold rooms’.

Speaking to residents at Shaviyani Feydhoo during a visit to the island on Tuesday as part of his ongoing campaign tour of Shaviyani Atoll – President Solih said if one desires to win an election, one must meet the people and listen to their voices.

“There is no success in staying in their rooms inside the comforts of their homes. We are doing this work, meeting each resident of every island to inquire about their needs, and including the same in the development plan for the next five years. I call on our opponents to get out and campaign instead of staying in,” he said.

The president said there is no benefit of a manifesto formulated without meeting and hearing from the citizens.

Underscoring he works by listening to the people, President Solih attributed the fact to the immense support he receives from various islands.

Speaking further, the president stressed it was the legal responsibility of any incumbent administration to facilitate the most basic services. Briefing the residents on how disregarded basic services had been by previous administrations, he detailed that only 26 islands had clean drinking water when he assumed office, while only 65 islands had sewerage systems in place. He added that the current administration had introduced these services to a multitude of islands.

President Solih, citing citizens always earn for development projects, promised to undertake efforts to fulfill the needs of the residents of each respective island once conveyed to him.

Pledges the president made for Feydhoo in his second term in this regard include;