August 2, 2008
Analysis: The Rational Behind The Annual Meeting of AACNA
On Friday morning, July 25th, 2008, I woke up with high expectation and enthusiasm and eagerness to go to Toronto in order to participate in the much anticipated Annual Meeting of AACNA. I went to my work in the morning and left for Toronto in the afternoon. I was told to go directly to BBQ arranged by Halimo Saad. While on my way to Toronto, I was longing to see my friends and some of the Dream Team whom I have never saw them before.
When I reached the place of the BBQ, very few of the Awdalites were there. The weather was comfortable and the smell of the food was so appetizing. The people came one by one or more. We were hugging and greeting each other with love. We started eating the Chicken and Meat Kabab as well as the rice. We sipped the well prepared tea with the usual aroma. People were laughing and choking with one another. The atmosphere of the gathering was so overwhelming. It was so contagious that some of the people did not want to go home. It is the place I met with so many people I have not seen for a long time. It is the place where I was introduced to some of the Dream Team.
In that Friday night, I was with some of the old friends. We were discussing one issue: Pre-nominated Committee of AACNA which was mentioned in the Agenda of the coming meeting. While we were discussing that issue, one of the Dream Team came to us and took one of his colleagues who was with us at the time. At 1:30 p.m., that member of the committee came back to us and brought a new Agenda in which the Pre-nominated Committee item has been removed. The discussion was turned to how the Dream Team will run the agenda and direct the nomination of the new committee. We were confident that they will act according to the international nomination process in any organization.
Before I proceed to the next day and write about the activities in the General meeting, let me be clear of one thing, The Dream Team. By God, I meant it. They are bothers, friends, and our intellectuals. I recognize all of the things they did for us. I recognize and respect their knowledge and how much they understand our blight. We have to be very proud to have a group of people of such caliber.
On Saturday, July 26th, 2008, the meeting was scheduled to commence at 9:00 a.m. I was there at 10:00 a.m. and I was prepared to apologize for being late but to my dismay, I found that I was one of the early birds. The meeting was called to order at around 12:00 NOON. There were around 60 to 80 people if I am correct. That was a good turn out. I was so proud to see all those Awdalites under one roof at the same time. The atmosphere was so cordial. Happiness was emanating from all faces.
The agenda was crowded with many interesting topics. Each one of the dream team has spoken and some of them have presented good topics. AACNA’S history was the main agenda: The overview of the organization: Its creation, objectives and goals, proposed projects, and prioritization of the projects was emphasized. The accountability of the funds raised has come up and explained by the Dream Team. The balance sheet of the distribution of the money was put forward too.
At the time the committee has announced their resignation, every one of us was anticipating a fair process where the Ontario part of the new committee will be elected by the people present and the rest of the committee will be selected by the Old committee because the other regions in USA and Canada were not represented in the meeting. To our bewilderment and surprise, the pre-nominated committee was announced by the Dream Team. There were a significant number of people in the meeting and they should not be over ruled. That was a bombshell and immediately created mistrust and commotion among the people. The rational behind paying all the expenses and coming to Toronto with twenty names was beyond comprehension. Some of the people in the floor tried to reason the validity of the process and some proposed that the Old committee should either all stay or some of them remain in the new committee. But all requests from the crowd were in vain. Why on earth they traveled all that way with predetermined process.
They should have stayed home and announce the committee from where they were with less expenses and commotion and would have spared the people from fighting for nothing. We gathered for nothing and left with anger and divided. Our intelligence has been insulted and looked down. On the other hand, the people who suggested that a meeting will not be possible in Ottawa were the first people to participate and knew that their names will come up as members of the New Committee. They were interviewed and briefed prior to the meeting. Gartaas ina sanwayne ha loo geysto.
My objection to the process was clear and well argued, but not heeded by the committee. I am still concerned about how The Dream Team has come up with the pre-nominated committee and who proposed to them in the first place. I know for sure that The Dream Team would not and should not know all of the people in the new committee. For sure some people have given advice on who will be in the new committee from at least in Canada. There is no doubt in my mind that they sought the advice of some people in Canada but who they are time will tell. It is mind boggling on who introduced those people to The Dream Team. At least the dream team would have consulted some of the elders in North America and particularly those in Ottawa.
It is very clear that the process was flowed and cannot be accepted as such. I am honest and would like to see Awdalites unite on one cause at a time. However, AACNA has been buried in Toronto by the people who created in the first place and will never be saved again unless the people who have hijacked the process give it new dress and a camouflage under that seudo name. I do not think all of the old committee members were innocent and fair about the process. Those who gave the wrong advice to the DREAM TEAM have misjudged the outcome and thought they would get away with it.
What is equally surprising is the way the New Committee has fooled us all. They staged all misunderstandings and division and at the same time took the leadership with silence and slip away into the darkness. They equally had an agenda to divide people and put among us hard disagreement. I did not know that some people among us would do such a thing and leave happily from the stage with unfinished business and uncompromised leadership. If I was in their shoes, I would not have taken that uncompromised leadership and take the flag to Ottawa.
I would like to thank to Professor Ahmed Ismail Samatar whose presentation: Leadership and Development has soothed my anxiety and anger and put me in a positive note. Also I liked the way he defined TULNIMO ( BOND ). I recognize his analysis on leadership. Thinking of his analysis, I can say now that Our Dream Team acted as AUTOCRATS. Imagine traveling from USA with one decision in their pockets and put the burden of proof on innocent people. Without the wise judgment and analysis of Professor Ahmed, the meeting would have ended differently and with sour note. I quoted from him: Level of Collective Ambition. That is what the Dream Team and the New Committee have destroyed. And that is what I thought the meeting would produce. But instead it created uncertainty and division. Whether it was unintended or intended I do not know.
I was observing the people’s reaction when the New Committee was announced and it was amazing how some people were happy and some were angry. Some people have been waiting for this moment and have knowledge of it coming and others were surprised and thought they have been ambushed. Some where celebrating and some where disappointed. The whole thing was a choke. Voluntarism is appreciated in the world and in any community. Whoever volunteers for the committee is welcomed. However, the meeting was not necessary so long the New Committee was pre-nominated. And the Dream Team would not have come all that far and create misunderstanding among us.
Finally, I would like to ask a question to all of the New Committee members and that is:
WHO RECOMMENDED YOU TO THE OLD COMMITTEE?????
