Abdirazak Hussen’s premiership won over former skeptics through honesty and anti-nepotism.

Evidence

Hilowle, who did not view my choice of Abdirazak [Hussen] in 1964 approvingly, is now an admirer of the young prime minister because of his honesty, his courage, and his rejection of nepotism and tribal partisanship! And I am happy about this because Abdirazak deserves it. Some men take the reins of power when others have great faith in them, and they finish by having disillusioned these same others who now know them better. This was the case with Abdirashid [Sharmarkee]. Others start out with the skepticism of others and even hatred by some, but later they succeed in proving that they are much better than what was believed. This is the case of Abdirazak Haji Hussen, who, when I chose him, had almost everyone against him, while now they highly praise him, and it is justified. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 938

Categorization

• XREF: Foreshadows the 1967 presidential contest outcome described in the next paragraphs; also links back to chapter(s) covering Osman’s 1964 choice of Abdirazak against near-universal opposition.