Representatives from 17 districts that make up Banaadir on Saturday unanimously endorsed Governor Thabit Abdi Mohamed to lead a transitional administration ahead of the first one man one vote set for 2020.
441 out of 459 representatives from the districts endorsed Mohamed at the Banaadir Regional Administration headquarters in Mogadishu.
“We have given out votes to Thabit for next two years to be Governor and Mayor of Banaadir and Mogadishu. And in the next two years we have mandated him to push for our rights ahead of the one man one vote. He will be accountable to deliver this” Abdifatah Halane Spokesman of Banaadir Regional Administration told reporters after the vote.
“This city has more than 3 million people. We have decided to organize ourselves as our right to elect him to lead a transition. It is our right to seek for self determination. Some other regions have less than 5 districts and enjoy self determination. We want the Prime Minister and President should not interfere with the federal system ” Jawahir Barqab said after the vote.
Governor Mohamed who is also the Mayor of Mogadishu is now expected to charter the administration and the city to its first ever elections in post war Somalia in two years to come.
The move came as rumours were rife that the PM Office and Villa Somalia had pushed for the replacement of the popular Governor.
Internal Security Minister Abdi Mohamed Sabriye is reported to have declined to hand over a letter of replacement to Governor Mohamed giving a chance to what transpired on Saturday night.
Mogadishu elders had early Saturday issued a presser to protest President Farmaajo’s revocation of land sale and purchase claiming it aimed at curbing the powers of Governor Mohamed.
