Ahmad Obeidat; the former Prime Minister and the director of the Kingdom's intelligence for eight years, which were among the most dangerous years Jordan has faced; and the Minister of Interior during the martial law era… is widely mourned with all this popular love; and the Jordanians from various backgrounds and origins mourn him; and politicians from different orientations and different generations; the generation that was contemporary with the founding of the state along with him; the generation that was young when Basha had the highest authority in the country after King Hussein; and the generation that came after Basha left his political positions!
This case deserves its rightful place in study and analysis; If I were currently a state official, I would review this case a thousand times… hoping that people would pray for me when I leave this world just as they have prayed for this respected man! It is not easy for people to love a figure of authority from a difficult era; and even harder for them to love him more after he has left his responsibilities, making his passing a moment to realize the true love people had for the deceased Basha!
I do not believe that this is only due to his political stances; although his stances, may God have mercy on him, are notable and historic; among them - and perhaps not the most important - is his explicit opposition to the peace agreement and his resignation from the Senate rejecting its ratification and his retirement from official politics thereafter; and among them, his adoption of the "How did he get this" law to fight corruption during his premiership, waging a true deterrent war against it! Most notably, his leadership at the National Center for Human Rights… and his skill in managing the Jordanian National Charter during a serious local political crisis with no losses on the regime front and with significant popular and partisan gains at the same time with rare cleverness!
Yet, I still do not believe that this is the reason; I have followed with interest what was written about him after his death and in the days leading up to it during his final illness; to also find many personal stories about him; and during his public service; he helped people within his capabilities without any negligence of the state's rights or security… and I remembered his march in the forefront of the reform marches years ago at the start of the Arab Spring as the leader of the Reform Front that included a wide spectrum that would not have withstood within one framework if not for Obeidat being in it; and I remembered that when I saw him in the march in his seventies I felt safe: because I trusted that his presence would not allow the protesters to overstep against the state, and would prevent those lurking from causing a rift between the security and the people! For he was a man of respect and awe, may God have mercy on him, and knew how to manage the street; and knew that among the opposition were those who loved the country; and wished to be soldiers in its army even!
Also, I do not think that is the reason… Rather, I believe in this case that the reason is all these reasons combined; and before them and after them that he is like us! He is a man who resembles everyone: a Jordanian who loves Palestine and refused to concede any part of it; he loves the homeland and served his nation and its leadership with all loyalty and clean hands; he never dishonored people's dignities despite all the power he had; and he never betrayed the security of the nation; he was very cautious not to wrong people… Opposed policies but never opposed the regime ever; and never opposed the state… and remained the lawman who knows the distinction between expressing an opinion and inciting; he did not just fight corruption but tried to establish a law that deters and prevents it from occurring!
Simply, Ahmad Obeidat was a man in harmony with himself in all the positions he held! The rural young man who became a teacher then a criminal officer then an intelligence officer ending up as the director of intelligence and Minister of Interior and Prime Minister! But he remained preserving the dignity of a teacher; and the honor of soldiering; and the high national sense of providing correct information without hypocrisy; and he maintained his dignity to preserve the dignity of the state he once was a prime minister of! For that reason, Ahmad Obeidat came with all this wealth of love! Because simply he did not change and remained honest and clean, he did not invest in public office; and did not exploit people's emotions when the various national forces chose him as the head of the Reform Front… and he prioritized the national interest over everything at every moment of his life with courage and straightforward opinion without hypocrisy or flattery!
I met Basha in the condolence of my father for the second time, may God have mercy on them; where he spoke well and enumerated the virtues of "the conscience of the press" as he described it… and I met him before and after it while he was at the National Center for Human Rights… and I never had the chance to know him more or hear from him more than a few general words during the elections… but I indirectly got to know him when I met his sons and experienced their professionalism… so I attest that he raised young men who the world can be proud of… Our warm condolences to them… and to all the lovers of Basha across the nation… and may his departure inspire the statesmen to emulate him!
