AZRUDDIN Mohamed was brimming with confidence on Nomination Day. He was in good spirits, and was, no doubt, happy. After all, he managed to stun the body politic with his entourage of supporters.

For a newcomer, he knew how to make an entrance as his party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), presented its list of candidates to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). He was brightly greeting the crowd, walking alongside what seemed to be his armoured entourage of party members and supporters. It was like the blue shield was surrounding him.

Inside the Umana Yana, as the list was being presented to the elections officials, Mohamed seemed uncomfortable and agitated. He was caught looking to the ceiling and fighting to keep his composure. He was probably waiting for the proceedings inside to be done so that he could be a part of the excitement that awaited outside, but he had to face the media outside.

And, like everyone who went before, so he did. When the first question was put to Mohamed, he knew this was no longer a game. He then attempted to answer the second question that was put to him, and the rest of the interview is history. He caved and sank. He cowered and hid. He bobbed and weaved. It was difficult to watch.

Mohamed, the ‘blue’ crowd’s champion for that day, said “very shortly…soon…no…very shortly,” in response to questions from the media about his policies and Manifesto plans. The agonising interview continued with even journalists who were sympathetic to his cause trying to prompt him to answer the simplest of questions.

When this did not work, his team came to his rescue. Mark France attempted to answer and speak for him, but he ended up being hostile to the media. It was time to escape the heat that the media brought. Along with his team, with defeat, shame and embarrassment written all over his face, Mohamed started walking and looking for an escape, but the media corps followed. Mohamed was no longer confident, but rather confused and kerfuffled.

It seemed the media; not his competition, caused Team Mohamed and their leader to cave in and withdraw from the limelight and to rethink their strategy.

Firstly, the first and only thing that Mohamed did wrong was that he opened his mouth; he let the world know his ideas, plans and policies. There was NONE. That was the biggest secret Team Mohamed was keeping, and it was prematurely let out. His eyes and the expressions on his face were timeless and priceless. He did not seem to understand what was happening around him. The place appeared to be caving in right before his eyes.

Any person with commonsense would know that Mohamed is politically dense, dumb and stupid. He is just a talking head, and a man who is being used as a political smokescreen and distraction by the PNC/APNU/AFC opposition. The whole ordeal that played out at the Umana Yana was embarrassing, yet it was telling.

Mohamed, up to that point, had no plans and policies. He had no vision; not even a blueprint for leadership, because he had never envisioned himself in that role. And that’s deeply concerning. The media corps must be commended for the line of questioning that evoked this truth.

Even if someone were nervous, they would at least attempt to answer or say something more meaningful than, “Very shortly”, and ‘Very soon”. Beneath the wealth, Mohamed came across as a bitter and vengeful little boy.

Secondly, why did his team leave him to face the media when they knew he could not handle the pressure of the media, or could not speak to save his life? Where are all the highly-paid media and public relations experts that Mohamed hired? Where are the APNU/AFC rejects and persons who ‘believed’ in Mohamed now? Natasha Singh-Lewis, Tabatha Sarabo-Halley, Dawn Hastings-Williams, and others are not serious. This is the replacement for Irfaan Ali? Mohamed for president?

Surely, they know that elections are not won on the basis of popularity alone. Likes, views and shares do not translate into votes and success at an election. They know that Mohamed would not win this election, and would not become the next president.

And who are the people that are supporting team Mohamed? A large section of his support would appear to be infamous people referred to as “scrap heads”.  There was another section that mirrored the APNU/AFC support base.

Another section just appeared to be Guyanese looking to cash in on a moment. And, do not forget the accusations by the social media influencers that they organised much of the crowd, and that they paid a sap to people to wear the blue shirts and walk behind Mohamed.

Thirdly, Mohamed is just an empty vessel that the opposition is using to steal the polls. They are trying to weaken the support of the PPP/C at the polls. The APNU/AFC is up to the usual election shenanigans. Why does the public think Simona Broomes and Amanza Walton-Desir are competing only in the regions where they are? The opposition has split up to fool the public and win their support when they know that they are one and the same. Broomes, Amanza Walton-Desir, Nigel Hughes, and Mohamed are the same PNC. They are APNU, and their policy positions are all the same, except for Mohamed. A vote for any of those teams is a vote for PNC and APNU.

It looks like Norton is throwing shade and already abandoning ship, and the elections ploy when he said Friday, “Unlike some other political parties, we wanted no criminal elements on our list… And from the evidence that is available, a lot of people went there for the money… But for us, the focus shouldn’t be on Mohamed; the focus should be on getting rid of the PPP”.

Finally, Monday was truly a day to remember, because the public heard and saw everything with their own ears and eyes. And, no one had to say a word; not Bharrat Jagdeo, or Irfaan Ali.

Guyana deserves a leader who can articulate their policies and plans clearly. It needs a leader who can provide solutions to address long-standing problems and issues.  A leader who can speak loudly and listen. Guyana needs a leader with a vision; not just a promise. Guyana does not need any more influencers; it already has the likes of “Doggy, Fatta, Small Man Association”, and the list is still climbing. Mohamed could join that list if he wants.

Politics is a serious business; it does not need actors or comedians. It has its own thrills, theatrics, and laughs. It is disheartening to see Mohamed, instead of focusing on getting the United States to clear his family’s name by taking it off the sanctions list, has turned to politics to seek refuge, and to con his way to the presidency.

Mohamed is doing all the wrong things to get the attention of the US. He is deliberately making enemies in the PPP/C when they have not done anything wrong.  He must do much introspection, and stop fooling the public that he is concerned about them and their lives.  The poorer classes of people deserve better; they deserve a leader who would not take advantage of them and their votes, because their vote may matter.

The APNU +AFC is too wicked to use Mohamed, who’s still a boy in politics, in this way to try to steal the elections or weaken the PPP/C. The plan backfired, and now he is taking more of their supporters and people; not the PPP/C. Lastly, why did he have to open his mouth and speak?

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.