|| Obang Metho
I’ve just had very productive discussions with our Deputy Prime Minister Ato Demeke Mekonnen Hassen. It was a great honour and pleasure for me to visit his office.
We had an excellent conversation on a wide range of important issues but the main purpose of my visit was to talk about grave security threat to our citizens due to increasing ethnic violence, ethnic conflicts at our universities, the fate of our abducted University students from Dembi Dolo and ethnic extremism and stability.
I want to know how the Deputy Prime Minister and I can work together to help prevent more ethnic/religious conflicts throughout our country because it is a key for our own stability, for our own security, for our own prosperity.
We have had great discussions about how we can collaborate to advanced the cause of stability, security, reconciliation and peace throughout the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister asked me about how things are in Gambella region and I told him that many concerns were voiced by the people of Gambella when Prime Minister Abiy visited Gambella on May 22, 2018, but since that time, no changes have taken place in Gambella region. Instead, the regional government authorities and other power holders who have remained in power have strongly resisted change coming to Gambella.
Some people believe the old guard of the TPLF is especially vigilant in guarding their power and assets in Gambella region. The people of Gambella, especially the youth, failed to see any of the promised changes materialize after they joined the struggle with other Ethiopians to become a more active part of bringing that change. The Gambella youth wanted their voice heard; however, they soon learned that what was possible elsewhere in Ethiopia, was not welcome in Gambella region.
In conclusion the Deputy Prime Minister and I agreed that to prevent the rise of ethnic extremism in Ethiopia required a strong commitment from all stakeholders and we in the SMNE are ready to do our share.
I look forward to continued working with the Deputy Prime Minister.
Next week I am planning to go to Jigjiga to meet brother Mustafa Mohoumed Omer, President of the Somali Regional State to talk about how we can collaborate with Brother Mustafa on how to prevent the grave security threat to all our precious people due to increasing ethnic violence and how to advanced the cause of stability, security, reconciliation and peace throughout our society and country.
Long live Ethiopia. May God heal the soul of our people and nation and see Ethiopia transformed!
