By Alirashid Isse Hildid

It is time to stop these “cry baby politicians” from usurping and squandering our hard earned democracy.

Since Somaliland separated from the messy Somalia, many sacrifices have been made by all Somalilanders within and outside the country in order to protect our hard-earned democracy.

We owe our elders deep gratitude for their wisdom and unwavering effort in ensuring that peace and tranquility are preserved. We are also mighty grateful to our armed forces for securing our boarders, when our “toothless bulldog politicians” failed miserably to confront the terrorist Puntland administration which was not only capturing Somaliland territory but was also committing grave atrocities against defenceless civilians. Now, these good for nothing politicians are at each other’s throats vying for opportunity to lead the country. All they are doing is compounding the misery of the people. Every time they set the house on fire, they run to the elders seeking help in extinguishing it.

Currently, there are three issues that are affecting mankind globally and they are:

• Soaring fuel prices resulting from, high energy demand by emerging economies like China and India due to their high economic growth; and also from greedy speculators who wish to maximize their returns.
• Soaring food prices resulting from diversion of grains into bio-fuels to cover shortfalls and also to take advantage of high grain prices. These approaches have diminished the availability food as the grain producing countries are taking measures to strict the export of grain, after massive demonstrations and upheaval.
• World neglect of agriculture and widespread drought.

It is vitally important to note that Somaliland is not immune to these issues. In fact they affect us more than many countries by virtue of our limited resources and apparently the effects are being felt in every household in Somaliland.

Confronting these issues of food and water shortage should be priority number ONE. If these issues are not confronted head-on, they are bound to affect not only the well-being of the people, but also the security of our nation is at stake. If all these politicians are expending every joule of their energy in protecting their personal interests and political ambitions, who is representing the ordinary people? What are required are long time solutions and not half-hazard or band-aid solutions. It is a great sin for us to fold our arms and say we cannot do anything because we are not recognized internationally and therefore have no access to external funding. We should fend for ourselves.

I appeal to all Somalilanders to rise above these misguided clan lineage that only divide us, and work hard to advance the interest of the motherland. We must all unite to hold these politicians to account and if they do not listen, we must use the mighty pen on Election Day when we exercise our constitutional right to vote.

I am not here to incite anyone to take arms against those in power or wannabe leaders, but recent events in the country have not only given me the shivers but are of great concern.

Every Somalilander has an obligation to protect the nation from within or without. It is time to reboot Somaliland nationalism and rekindle that great love for the motherland so that we can face our adversities with a common approach. We must look for ways to boost agricultural production and water availability. For those in diaspora and those within the country whom GOD has bestowed with a bit of dough, it is time we put our hands deep into our pockets to help those in need in the motherland. We should not wait for the crisis to reach our doorsteps before we act, as it may be too late then. In the meantime the country must start accumulating food before the exporting countries shut their doors to exports permanently. I know I sound an alarmist, but it is important to note that world food crisis is here to stay. We have to help ourselves as all international bodies like the UN, AU and EU are all “talking shops” and have their own agenda.

God Bless Somaliland.

Alirashid Isse Hildid.
Toronto , Canada