Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the opposition coalition’s presidential candidate, has urged Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed to join them.

Solih said this on Sunday while speaking in a ceremony held in Madifushi, the lawmaker’s native island.

At the ceremony, Solih said that he is good friends with Riyaz Rasheed even though they have vast political differences.

Solih praised Riyaz Rasheed for being active in parliament and urged him to join the opposition coalition’s work, which he described as being more than just political and more focused on the nation and citizens.

Also at the ceremony, Solih vowed to empower the Madifushi council and that main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s manifesto is aimed at upholding decentralization principles. He also said that his administration would bring decentralization to the whole country and improve services to the people.

He added that the government of the opposition coalition would also review and provide a better solution to the fines and fees taken from citizens.