Pleas for Yameen’s release in Solih’s phone: President

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Friday said his messages pleading to former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for the release of Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom would still be in Solih’s phone if the messages have not been deleted by now.

In a special interview with SanguTV, Dr. Muizzu said he consistently defended former President Yameen during his legal battle with law enforcement and judiciary.

His only motivation back then, had been the acquittal and subsequent release of Yameen.

“I worked alongside others in the leadership to do all we can for Yameen’s release when he was taken to jail. So, it is surprising after the joy we shared following Supreme Court’s verdict to overturn his jail sentence,” Dr. Muizzu said, highlighting the conflict between the former allies.

Dr. Muizzu also said he was the one to affirm support to Yameen in the former president for a second presidential term through PPM.

The incumbent president said he sent several messages to former President Solih pleading for Yameen’s release since the entire leadership of PPM had been working for the same cause.

“I had pleaded to change him [Yameen] to his residence ahead of Ramadan, or at least ahead of his kid’s O’Level examination, on multiple occasions and even messaged the more influential ministers pleading for the same.”

The president affirmed that he, to the best of his capacity, and the party had put maximum effort for Yameen’s acquittal, which included protests calling for the former president’s release and pleas to all the key actors with authority.

Dr. Muizzu said he had endorsed President Yameen for presidency until the last minute, should the former president receive his acquittal ahead of the nomination date.

Not long after the current government took charge, Yameen, who led the coalition of both Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), exited the coalition.

According to Yameen, he resigned since the coalition’s leadership, and Dr. Muizzu were attempting to isolate him and owing to the deteriorating relations between him and the current president.

After exiting the ruling party’s coalition, Yameen founded the People’s National Front (PNF). At the rallies of his new found party, Yameen continues to severely criticize the current administration and his former allies.