Puntland Diaspora Forum (PDF) is saddened by the death of former Prime Minister, Abdirizak Haji Hussein, on Friday January 31st, 2014, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
On behalf of all members of PDF, we would like to express our deepest sympathy with the family and friends of the deceased.
Abdirizak Haji Hussein was a well-known principled politician and Prime Minister of Somalia (1964-1967) who introduced the “right person for the right post” concept where competency was the only criterion for public service.
After the 1969 election, Abdirizak Haji Hussein was the only Member of Parliament who did not cross the floor to join the dominant Somali Youth League (SYL) in the hope of getting a ministerial job. He was a one-man opposition in the 1969 parliament which was brought to an end by the military coup.
Abdirizak became a member of SYL at its inception and remained loyal to its principles of Somali unity, even after he left it.
After the collapse of the Somali state in 1991, Abdirizak stood in opposition to foreign intervention in Somalia. He remained committed to the principles he stood for, to the end.
May Allah forgive him and shower him with his mercy and reward him with Jannah.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and the Somali people who have lost a historic figure.
Farah Osman
Puntland Diaspora Forum (PDF)
www.puntlanddiaspora.org