The Beginning Of A New Era

“There is strong synergy between economic and political institutions. Extractive political institutions concentrate power in the hands of a narrow elite and place few constraints on the exercise of this power. Economic institutions are then often structured by this elite to extract resources  from the rest of the society.”

– Why Nations Fail

It is been coming for a long time. No one in their wildest imaginations thought that it would take more than four decades to see a Somali Parliament being formally elected in a Somali soil. As they say ” it is better to be late than never”! This is truly a historic moment for our nation and our people. History is full of many defining moments that make or break the destiny of nations/society. I think that moment has dawned on us.

Long gone are the days when dictators could suppress the freedom of an entire nation. Gone are the days when warlords and warmongers could dictate our future. Gone are also the days when our people could easily follow wicked and selfish politicians with their evil intentions and mislead us with their hateful rhetoric. Gone are the days when our people were disconnected from each other.

Our country has finally awakened from the coma and our people are no longer in hibernation. We are fully conscious and self aware and our hearts are beating as one. Now that we have a legitimate formal parliament that has the blessings of our people it is time to close the dark chapter of the past 22 years and put it behind us for good.  I know it has taken us a long time to reach this historic point in our short history as a nation but the reality is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The real challenge starts now as there is a long and steep road ahead of us.

Our long journey to the road ahead and beyond starts with first and foremost electing the next President of our Federal Republic. I am confident enough that our honorable Parliamentarians will carefully deliberate and think about the hardships and miseries our people had experienced the past 22 years and realize that the hopes, expectations and aspirations of the entire Somali people home and abroad are resting on their shoulders. I am also sure that they know without a shadow of a doubt that it was lack of leadership and vision that has failed our country and our people. The great French Enlightenment writer and philosopher, Voltaire said: “with great power comes great responsibility.” Surely, you now have the power to determine and choose the person who will lead our people and our country and it is your responsibility to make sure that you elect a president that is decisive, strong-willed, patriotic, and selfless. A president that is capable of unifying our people and healing the pains and the emotional scars that we have all suffered. A charismatic president that is capable of steering our country forward and that never looks back.

Now more than ever, our people where ever they are in the world are brimming with hope and they finally sense that the old days of lawlessness, chaos and disorder are becoming history. They finally sense that their perseverance, sacrifices and steadfastness  is bearing some fruits. Last but not the least, I just pray to almighty Allah that whoever wins this coming presidential elections in the parliament next week leads our country to peace and prosperity. Amen.