Former President Abdulla Yameen failed to win a second term and saw his administration come to an end because of his own pride and arrogance, declared Speaker of the People's Majlis and PNC Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla.

Hitting back at recent comments made by Yameen, who alleged that parliamentarians lack independence, Abdul Raheem told a PNC rally last night that for a former president to describe parliament as a "dog cage" only underscores his arrogance.

Abdul Raheem noted that given Yameen served as president and spent many years as a lawmaker, speaking in such a manner only exposes the depth of his bitterness.

Asserting that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government is far from over and that it was Yameen’s reign that came to an end, Abdul Raheem attributed Yameen's downfall to lawlessness and tyranny. He added that the public voted him out and ousted him from power because he plundered the public purse and refused to listen to the people.

"His reign is what ended. His government ended because of pride. It ended because of arrogance. It ended because of malice. It ended because he refused to listen. It ended because he failed to deliver justice. It ended because of tyranny. It ended because of betrayal. It ended because he drained the state treasury of the Maldivian people. It ended because he was ruled by his wife," Abdul Raheem said.

Responding to Yameen’s claims that several lawmakers are not fully backing President Muizzu, Abdul Raheem insisted that PNC members stand firmly united and fiercely loyal behind the president.

Abdul Raheem remarked that Yameen possesses no magic spell or sorcery capable of driving a wedge through the PNC.

He added that Yameen remains bitter toward them simply because they worked to put someone else in power, emphasizing that they will always put the nation ahead of Yameen.