In spiritualism ‘channeling’ is when one allows his body to be used by the ghost
of the dead to speak to the living. I witnessed Oromo leaders with the honorable
Bekele Gerba as the spokesperson being used by the dead tyrant to speak to us.
It was a sad spectacle of a press conference that demeaned all what we fought
for and won. I don’t know about you but I felt shame engulf my body, anger boil
my blood and rage stir my soul. Bekele Gerba and company, I am done with you.
You and your friends’ way of thinking is what we just wiped away from the face of
Ethiopia. We are trying to recover from a bad influenza and here they come to tell
us the virus is not dead yet. Pass me the antibiotic please.
We know we got problems. We also know Woyane thinking is not something that
will be erased so fast and easy. We are aware that we beat a mother of a
disaster by sidelining Woyane without a long and protracted struggle. By all
standards, we are one lucky people. Future Political scientists will pour over the
events and hopefully come up with an explanation. Today no matter what people
claim the demise of Woyane in a silent manner is a Godsend good luck for our
country and people. We believe.
The last four months while we are celebrating freedom and hope there were
many from the old regime undermining our effort. That is to be expected. It does
not require much intelligence to figure that out. Sure enough we have witnessed
ethnic based conflicts in all four corners of our land. The PM has been dealing
with the problems as they arose and he seems to know what he is doing under
the circumstances. Well meaning Ethiopians wish him luck.
It is at this important point in the life of our country that our three Oromo ‘leaders’
showed up to act victim, complain, threaten and defame the rest of us. Ato
Bekele spoke on five issues. The existential threat to “Oromos’ as people, the
‘issue’ about Finfine, unity with Amharas, current affairs and Federalism. I
am sorry to say Ato Bekele Gerba and his friends do not seem to have thought
much about what they just said in public. It left many of us stunned. We deserve
better articulation regarding our current problem and we abhor fuzzy language to
cover ignorance.
That is why I claimed the group was ‘channeling ‘ Meles Zenawi. The double talk
about loving and working with other ethnic groups was there, the doomsday
scenario where our country's reverts to civil war is shouted out loud and the claim
to be the forefront of the struggle was displayed without shame. Just like good
old Woyane crap other Ethiopians are portrayed as ‘enemies’ and a simple
disagreement on policy is viewed as an existential threat. Sad to say all this
wisdom is lifted from Woyane playbook. You know who was laughing their ass off
in their Mekele hideout. Some people make Woyane proud.
It is not difficult to go through his concerns and prove them to be self serving,
wrong and not worthy of ‘seasoned’ politicians that purport to represent their
people. I consider that effort to be a waste of time and energy that we dearly
need to figure out which of the many problems being faced by our people today
we should focus on. Good governance, food for our starving, medicine for our
sick, school for our children, jobs for our young people are issues we need to
focus on. China, US, France are in Djibouti, Iran and the Arabs are hovering in
the Red Sea and Somalia is still in turmoil is what our politicians should discuss.
We have achieved peace with Eritrea but we need to work on the details of the
relationship to avoid future misunderstanding. The EPRDF is discussing the sale
of assets, which needs the participation of all Ethiopians in general and experts
in the field in particular to lay a solid foundation.
Our association with Woyane and their underlings has given us the ability to spot
lazy politics. That is what our so-called Oromo leaders are trying to play. They
are not sure of their ideas, they have not figured out where they want to go, they
do not have a well thought of plan for the future thus they pull out the ‘ethnic’
card to build their feeble foundation for tomorrow. That is a strange card to play is
what any rational person would say. Didn't we see this game played? Didn't we
witness the total blow out? It is deja vu time Ethiopians. Another simpleton has
showed up to claim the trophy of the ‘clueless Ethiopian’. We have a few Meles II
in the making.
The question, quoting the dear departed leader ‘we have given you a problem for
the next hundred years’ coming true? I don’t think so. PM Abiy and Lemma
Megersa with Gedlu and Demeke have already put that fiction to rest. They
buried it deep and stomped on it too. Their experience with Woyane thought
them bigger is better. Ethiopians all over the world agreed with them. The last
four months the happiness quotient has reached an all time high thanks to the
absence of Woyane garbage fouling the country. Dear Bekele, dear others on the
table – how many people do you think will agree with your definition of Ethiopia
and how many people will come out to show you love if you took a tour with that
program at hand?
The speaker claimed ‘Finfine’ was ‘the ‘center of religious, economic political’
activity of the Gulele/yeka people and it was forcefully acquired. We are speaking
of what happened over a hundred years ago you realize. I am glad he kindly
allowed the residents to stay at his good will. There is no guarantee the next OLF
will not evict. Once ownership is asserted the next thing he wants is a name
change. It seems to be very dear and close to his heart. We have seen this
theatre before. If you remember dangling ‘Finfine’ was a favorite toy of the late
dictator. In the aftermath of the 2005 elections he brought it out to create division.
It is sad that Ato Bekele and company are again channeling the evil warlord. It
looks like they are not even capable of coming up with an original issue they can
stamp their name on? Finfine/Addis is a non-issue, give it a rest.
The press conference was a brutal attack on ESAT. I must admit that threw me
back, One can condemn ESAT on many points but never about being a ‘Nation
wrecker’. Shame on you Bekele Gerba. If it were not for ESAT no one would
know your name. You seem to have forgotten thousands of brave Ethiopians
went to jail for opposing tyranny, you just happen to be the lucky one plucked out
as a symbol. So you think you are special sir? If so, you have allowed your ego
to dominate your being. You were one of many. If you want to rise up to the top
may I suggest you find a common ground to unite instead of a small corner to be
king of.
The speaker described ESAT as standing for cheap scam to build political and
economic power. Where is your proof? No one has gotten rich of ESAT or
become a political leader, so the well thought of uttering is false, without warrant
and defamatory. The question is why? Surely we all disagree with some of the
analysis but isn’t it a stretch to call someone a terrorist because of a difference of
opinion? Do those folks sitting beside Ato Bekele believe in this belligerent pose
and negative politics? Is the idea to promote OMN by disparaging ESAT? That is
another example of lazy politics just like ethnic politics.
Ato Bekele said those that are afraid of competing in an election are calling for a
‘transitional government’ as a shortcut to power. Again we have heard that
before. Woyane used to turn every discussion into an attempt for power grab.
Instead of presenting his winning idea he choose to demean and label others
legitimate question. Actually his group is the one afraid of being overshadowed
by the unity side. The cry for Woyane Federalism based on language and
arbitrary lines is to hide behind ethnic alliance instead of national consensus.
They are trying to deflect that charge hiding behind the discredited Woyane Constitution.
There is one thing we Ethiopians agree on. The language-based ethnic
Bantustan built by Woyane has to be fine tuned in our image. The problem we
are facing today with conflicts in every corner is testimonial to the failure of that
arrangement. The fact that Ato Bekele and company are still trying to follow the
same dead end road is very alarming and not a good sign about the guiding
principle and mindset of the group on the stage.
The press release is a lost golden opportunity to be recognized as one of the
new leaders ready to guide our poor abused nation to a better future. It failed
miserably. Instead of hope it sowed fear, uncertainty and sent unnecessary
alarm. If the group was trying to disrupt, they did and in a negative manner too. A
lot can be said about OLF and its forty years of immaturity. I am sure our Oromo
cousins will look closely at this organization and demand accounting for the many
years of acting as a side show instead of leading. May be Ato Lemma’s trip to
Asmara and the respect accorded to the group went into the head of the leaders.
Whatever it is, it must be understood leadership comes with responsibilities.
Please act it.
Our country is in a very precarious situation with Woyane still controlling major
organs of the state and unlimited supply of money stashed everywhere in the
country. For twenty-seven years they have built our country in their own image of
vagabondism, lack of integrity and complete absence of the rule of law. We have
managed to corral the kingpins into a restricted zone but the many sycophants
and confused underlings are still with us. The Keble captains, the police chiefs,
the judges and court system is still staffed by Woyane trained officials. We all
know it was OPDO, ANDM and other cadres that were doing the dirty job for
Woyane. They are still with us. The PM and his team are trying their best to
project confidence but we all know better.
The press release by the group plays into Woyanes hands. It does not help the
cause of reconciliation and good will that is being preached by Dr. Abiy. It makes
him look weak and makes observers question the depth of his acceptance in the
Oromo community. Ato Bekele Gerba’s attempt to align himself with’ Kero’ is a
little pathetic and his use of the mass movement as a personal weapon to
intimidate is not acceptable.
The society we are building on the ashes of Woyane is open to any Ethiopian to
organize and advocate for the cause they believe. The government has
encouraged all opposition to come and contribute in a positive manner. There are
plenty that believe organizing on ethnic lines to be the wave of the past. But I
have not heard anyone advocating a ban. The attitude seems to be if you think
that is a winning strategy go right ahead and knock yourself out. The only issue
we care not to compromise about is the ability to organize in any part of Ethiopia
without fear and full freedom. Let the citizen decide whom he wants as
representative.
OPDO has purged itself of those not ready for the new challenge including the
name of the organization. That is a positive development. AG7 is in the process
of discussing with members and allies regarding the formation of a political party.
Like anything AG7 puts its mind and effort into it is being done in a very
deliberate manner. It is a very important document that will come out to serve as
a guiding principle for years to come. We should urge all political minded
organizations to be involved and assume ownership of our future.
As part of the Diaspora I am proud of the many supportive role we played to be
voice of the voiceless. Don’t worry I am not trying to claim to have liberated you
but you know the urge is there. We are proud to have sent some of our best and
brightest to help with the transition from slavery to freedom. We are touched by
the enthusiastic welcome accorded to our freedom fighters. It is good to be
recognized and appreciated. I am afraid we have also to take responsibility for
some of our returnees shall I say ‘unhelpful’ comments and ‘unwise’ talk that has
offended our people. It is not something to cry the sky is falling about since we
are hopeful things will sort themselves out through experience. Of Course we
urge and hope folks will learn faster consequences of loose talk and unplanned
action. We will keep hope alive.
Let us remember what the late senator John McCain wrote in his last message to
his people, it said “We are citizens of a republic made of shared ideals forged in
a new world to replace the tribal enmities that tormented the old one,” Tribalism
in a different form is still alive and well in the USA. Ours is not unique.
