Speaker Abdul Raheem Accuses Yameen of Laziness 

Speaker of Parliament and PNC Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla has sharply criticised former President Abdulla Yameen, describing him as a figure who achieved political power largely through the efforts of his supporters rather than his own merits.

In an interview with Sangu TV last night, Abdul Raheem expressed that while he had once respected and supported Yameen, he now views his 2013 presidential victory as a result of backing from former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, rather than Yameen’s own leadership qualities or political popularity.

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Abdul Raheem claimed that Yameen’s rise to power and subsequent success in party primaries were largely due to Gayoom’s support. “Yameen did not establish a political platform by himself; nor did he achieve his political position through his own efforts. It was his supporters who provided him with that platform,” he said.

He further criticised Yameen’s presidency as being dependent on his supporters, asserting that he withdrew his support when Yameen chose to boycott the 2023 elections, a move Abdul Raheem interpreted as evidence of Yameen’s self-serving nature.

Abdul Raheem Abdulla Questions Whether Yameen Orchestrated 2015 Speedboat Attack

During the interview, Abdul Raheem also questioned the authenticity of the 2015 bombing of Yameen’s speedboat, ‘Finifenmaa’. He suggested that the incident might have been orchestrated by Yameen himself. “I sometimes wonder if the speedboat bombing was a dramatised stunt by Yameen. His statements have led me to question this,” Abdul Raheem remarked.

Recalling the events of that day, Abdul Raheem noted that Yameen had reported seeing a man in a blue t-shirt at the scene of the explosion and claimed to know that this man had detonated the bomb. Abdul Raheem identified this individual as former Male’ Area Commander Captain Ahmed Fayaz Ali Riza.

He also highlighted discrepancies in Yameen’s accounts of the incident, particularly concerning intelligence reports and the involvement of former Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed, who is now a close ally of Yameen. Abdul Raheem suggested these inconsistencies raised doubts about the true nature of the bombing.

The bombing case led to convictions for former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, Fayaz (Papa), and two of Yameen’s bodyguards. However, the High Court later overturned these convictions, ordering a retrial. In May, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced it would not seek a retrial against any of the suspects.