Umar: PPM was not founded to advance personal political ambitions

Former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer, who has announced his presidential candidacy for the elections in 2018, has said that ruling Progressive Party of Malives (PPM) was founded to serve the nation, not to advance personal political ambitions.

Umar had the statement in a photo he posted on Twitter on Sunday night.

It was also written on the photo to choose the welfare of the nation before money.

PPM - Nation First pic.twitter.com/Ge2K0SulTh

— Umar Naseer (@UmarNaseerPPM) July 10, 2016

The tweet comes at a time of division within the ranks of PPM – with differences between PPM Leader, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and the current Maldivian

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom – who are half-brothers.

Mamoon is currently pushing his reform agenda for PPM.

Umar was part of the advisory committee set up by Maumoon to assist his during the reform process, but removed from the committee after he announced his intention of participating in the upcoming presidential elections.

Umar had the campaign slogan he used during the previous presidential election “Hallakee Umar” – meaning “The Solution is Umar” written at the bottom of the picture he posted on Twitter.