Radio Jigjiga: The Real Dilemma for President Abdi Iley
By Mohamed Bakayr
31 January 2012

Radio Jigjiga has a bone to pick with President Abdi Iley and their scuffle is escalating by the day. President Abdi Omar is the head of Somali region of Ethiopia, while Abdirahaman Sheikh Hassan owns and administers Radio Jigjiga, which has ferociously been fighting the president’s way of governance for a while now. And both individuals have fully equipped themselves with fuming websites, though Radio Jigjiga seems to have surpassed Cakaaranews, a website run by the president’s staff.

As much as one should hate obscene language and slanderous words, one should equally abhor unjust dealings and aggravated situations. Truly, human beings sustain injury and pain when they are slandered and obscene words are directed at them.

It was absolutely unbecoming of Cakaaranews to tempt and incentivize misguided elders at the expense of one’s dignity and integrity. People were shocked and taken aback when they watched and listened to a defamatory video posted on Cakaaranews aimed at Abdirahman. The incident took place some months ago, and some people argue that the video and its slanderous words were not just confined to him but transcended boundaries, and the whole slander was a prelude to other things.

The owner of Radio Jigjiga retaliated and caricatured the president in various shapes, some of which were not appropriate at all. In addition, the radio has exposed the president to the public and alleged him to have mismanaged the region and plundered its coffers. And this war of words began by Cakaaranews, as far as I know, is still continuing.

When will it end? Radio Jigjiga says it will only end when the president leaves office, but the president’s website writes that Radio Jigjiga will be banned from the region’s soil. However, the radio reports that it has multitude numbers of readers and contributors from the diaspora community and from within the region itself.

But to know what triggered the conflict between the two sides in the first place is worth investigating. And I am told that the two men became friends at one time, although I cannot verify the truth of this statement. But I know, for sure, that at one time, Radio Jigjiga merged with Cakaaranews. As a result, the radio ceased to exist because it became an integral part of Cakaaranews. For instance, if you typed the radio’s internet address to visit it, you would be instantly taken to Cakaaranews.com. Perhaps a conflict was created back then. Or whatever happened.

Personal attacks and slanderous manners must end. To criticize and shine a light on one’s dealings and governance is one thing, but to slander and use an absence language is quite another thing. Radio Jigjiga does have every right to advocate for the wellbeing of its people, but it ought to refrain from indecent language and obscene words.

Likewise, the president should accept every criticism aimed at the ways in which he administers the region and allocates things that are not his.

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