Leadership
A division is simmering between leaders elected on the ODM party in Mombasa over who should take the Deputy Party Leader (DPL) position after the resignation of Hassan Joho following his nomination to the Cabinet.
Two ODM legislators have publicly differed on the suitability of Governor Abdulswamad Nassir’s ascension to the coveted DPL post. Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi was the first to throw down the gauntlet when he presided over the handing over of a bus to Bomu Secondary School.
Mwinyi stated that he would not demur to give his opinion on who would take over the seat. The crucial position, he noted, needed a steadfast person who doesn’t hate leaders below him, cooperates with his people, could set aside time to meet with his colleagues and a person who could be firm at the headquarters.
He added that in human behaviour some people want everything that comes regardless of whether they were capable or not. “In religious teachings, we are not supposed to be too inclined to positions because power comes with responsibilities. If you will not fulfill the responsibilities, you’ll be questioned,” said Mwinyi.
He went on: “My Governor of Mombasa also wants the positions. I don’t hate him but he is not capable because here in Mombasa he is not on good terms with a quarter of the leaders. If he becomes a party leader, are we not in danger? He can’t even call us to drink tea”.
The MP called for members to be allowed to choose who would take over the reins of DPL. He further accused the Governor of not initiating development projects in the constituency despite billions allocated to the Port City. He noted that learners should not be facing problems with bursaries.
“We are using our own money to pay for school fees because they hold the money only to return them to the Treasury at the end of the financial year. Our billions are returning to The Treasury because they are not used yet we have needs. It’s not fair,” lamented Mwinyi.
Speaking separately during the issuance of Sh18 million bursaries for colleges and universities students, Jomvu MP Bady Twalib said the DPL shoes perfectly fitted Governor Nassir.
“If we today belittle the Governor, what do we expect from others? If they hear the main reason, is he has not called us for tea. Surely, drinking tea? We don’t want to drink tea, the tea we want is development for our people,” said Twalib. He argued that the seat should be filled by a Mombasa person akin to what happens to other regions when seats fell vacant.
“The Deputy Party Leader that we support is none other than the person who has assisted us in Jomvu Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir,” declared Twalib.
He noted that Mombasa risked losing the seat to another region because of the retrogressive ideas of some leaders. He vowed to stand with embattled Governor Nassir in the bid to take over the DPL position.
“I am telling you don’t pull him back. If you want the position, you should declare but don’t pull him back who has declared. We shouldn’t be envious of our colleagues,” stated Twalib, adding that people should not take Nassir’s gentleness mien to misconstrue to be a fool.
