Though these facts are oftentimes intentionally underminedby lovers of the past unitary system, it is an extraordinary reality to witness some ethnic groups, whom their mere existence was not even recognized, being actively engaged inpolitics;empowered to administer their regions and establish policiesrelevant to their needs; andinvolve in decision makings on matters pertinent to their administrative domains and regions. It is amazing how the political consciousness of such ethnic groups has developed and matured. This hashappened as a result of the conducive environments and democratization process created by TPLF/EPRDF and deserves appreciation and recognition at a minimum. Please let us “Give Credit Where Credit is Due.” 

Is Dr. Abiy’sthroning to power a historical moment? For me the answer is yes! With all due respect, I would like to challenge the premier if he also denies his ethnic origin, the Oromos, who used to be ashamed of their identity and tabooed to speak the language of their mother tongue; and at times, attempted to change their names in order to avoid embarrassments and assimilate with their subjugators. Why so muchdislike and drain of resources to devalue a system that has benefited him and his ethnic group? Very hard to imagine. Isn’t it?

The premier should have at least, appreciated and appropriately credited the role that TPLF/EPRDF has played in creating today’s Ethiopia where it had been unthinkable and unimageable to see individuals from minority ethnic groups playing critical roles not only in decision making concerning their constituents and administering their regional states but also in the Ethiopian politics at Federal level.

However, the premier’s speeches solely are focused on self-popularizing and disparaging TPLF. What is scary, however, is his shortsighted move to form a coalition with groups, some of whom have firm oppositions against the current federal structure which has been established on the premises of respecting the right of nations and nationalities to self-administer, speak their language and respect their culture. Some others have mixed and convoluted positions while a few others are collections of purposeless of chauvinists.

Also astonishing is the fact that the premier didn’t take his time to loudly and overtly express his enmity to TPLF. It should have occurred to his mind that it is one thing to holdcertain corrupted individuals responsible while it is another to insult and accuse TPLF altogether. The premier should have known that it is the sacrifice of the members of TPLF who brought him to where he is positioned now. He should have first consulted those respected elderly Oromos to learn how the “Geda” system that they adore much had been diluted; their identity and culture marginalized and consequently many had tried to assimilate with their subjugators to avoid the stigma of speaking their mother tongue language. Importantly, he should have learned by asking experts how the 80% of the Ethiopian population are enjoying the benefits of access to health service and basic education prior to starting to undo, belittle, and tarnish past accomplishments of TPLF/EPRDF.

The premier should have tried to ask his advisors and experts about what infrastructure constitutes prior to providing laughable and shallow arguments. To him, constructions of infrastructures are not considered developments. Before attempting to talk, he should have learned that infrastructures serve as blood streams for providing health service and education and facilitating the dissemination of information related to government’s political agenda and policies to all citizens across the country. As a matter of fact, it should have crossed to his mind that infrastructures play critical roles in improving citizens relationships and interactions by allowing them to travel, meet, share experiences, and create bond with people of different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.

As a matter of fact, like many ordinary Ethiopians, I have been very excited about the premier’s success. I offered him the benefit of doubt hoping he will scale up Ethiopia’s momentum to growth and advancement by creating a system to fight corruption and taking corrective measures on identified failures; secure peace and order in the country by performing his duties respecting the country’s constitution;and by adhering to a candid work ethic and norm, expected of a statesman. Readers may be astonished, but I was indifferent and of less fun to the premier’s sugar-coated speechesbecause I am kind of a pragmatic person. Nevertheless, the premier notonly has repeatedly and overtly reflectedand expressed deviant positions against his party’s established strategies, policies and procedures but also lacks expertly designed policies and transparent process of navigation. Instead, he frantically is acting to create fear, confusion, and delusion in the country. 

The premier seems to have chosena different path. The pathhe chose is a pathof denial which is leading Ethiopia to a state where its mere existence as a country is endangered and dippingdown to a point of disintegration day by day. As of now, he has invested a great dealof his time on making public speeches, seemingly prepared by teleprompters, shuttling from place to place, and a country to country. He is doing his best to reach out and embrace activists, individuals, and political groups, particularly those who are hellbent and known for their obstinate oppositions and notorious acts of defamation and disparagement of any TPLF/EPRDF’s developmental initiatives and achievements. All I can say is, the premier is in a state of denial syndrome.

The premier is yet expected to show the qualities of a statesmanship. He seems to have spent his 27 years with TPLF/EPRDF not on building political wisdoms but on dreaming and preparing how to lash and trash TPLF/EPRDF. He is evidently focused on denigrating past accomplishments. Hisinability to control his temper; his incompetence to analytically think and plan; and his lack of wit to process and handle complex issues are clear exhibitsof thewayhe reacts when asked hard questions about issues related to the current situations in Ethiopia.He usually is fixated on appeasing his supporters by badmouthing and tossing words that belittle TPLF/EPRDF and driving them to act emotionally and lawlessly. He is severely obsessed to building his own popularity instead of creating thoughtful strategic plans, formulating policies, and constructing road maps that would stabilize the instability and chaos being observed, now and then, in every corner of the country.

While the fact on the ground is undeniable, the premier and his messengers are denying and discrediting those well documented achievements made in the past 27 years.By now, I believe, many have reached to the conclusion that the premier is not driving his train of change on the right track. The situation in the country is not improving but rather is sliding down the hill and changing from bad to worst.

The pressure of instability is building, and several citizens are getting robbed and killed in broad day light. Ethnic conflicts are approaching their boiling point. The denial path is not helping the premier. Rather it is eroding the people’s confidence and hurting everyone including the premier’s reputation and putting the people’s life and the country’s existence at risk. The emotions that brought euphoria to Dr. Abiy’s supporters is about to pop.

“Denial is the lid on our emotional pressure cooker: the longer we leave it on, the more pressure we build up. Sooner or later, that pressure is bound to pop the lid, and we have an emotional crisis.” Susan Forward.

It is a documented fact that Ethiopia, under the rule of TPLF/EPRDF, is changing from being donation dependent to becoming a self-sufficient country.As well asstarted to appear as a strong challenger at renowned world forums when it comes to the impacts of global warming and the necessity to embark on structural economic transformation and green development.  Therefore, it was not the right path for premier to deny documented facts and success stories of TPLF/EPRDF that citizens can evidently see and enjoy the benefits of them.

“Denial does not change reality for everyone else. Only for the one denying and those who are foolish enough to believe the fantasy.”Elle Casey.

I personally have unequivocal respect to all Ethiopians without regard to their religion, culture, ethnicity, and social background and thus, always do my best to be free of any prejudice as to who should be the leader of Ethiopia. I strongly and genuinely believe that any Ethiopian can assume the power.I don’t get bogged down in one’s ethnic or religious background. The power of a premiership can be assumed by an Oromo, Amhara, Gurage, Somali, Sidama, Wolayita,Gambella, Benshangul … as long as he/she has the wit and wisdom to lead; as long as he/she respects and serves all the people with pure heart and without discrimination; as long as he/she acts responsibly, accountably and ethically; as long as he/she is honest, transparent, and free of any ulterior motives and malicious intentions; as long as he/she has an open mind and the capacity to critically analyze circumstances and remain adherent and respectful to established laws; as long as he/she acts and moves not haphazardly but  in a well-planned and measurable manner; and as long as he/she is strong enough to resist any third party involvement that may try to turn, sway, twist and influence his/her decision making capacity to their benefits by compromising the country’s sovereignty, legitimacy, and free will.

As mentioned above, many ethnic groups in Ethiopia were victims of marginalization and discrimination and miserably suffered beyond words can express. The people of Tigray, for example, were the subject of marginalization and discrimination and but horrible deaths and displacements and to avert such adversaries, they persistently, resolutely, and defiantly struggled and fought for years. As a result, they won and successfully changed the unitary government that existed in the country for centuries. As a matter of fact, this change occurred with the support and joint struggle of all nations and nationalities around the country. However, even in today’s Ethiopia, Tigreans remain as victims of poverty and targets of political mumbo jumbo.

Starting from the time TPLF/EPRDF came to power and continuing up to now, remnants of the past unitary government have investedso much of their resource in manufacturing propaganda, defamatory and unfounded allegations, reports, remarks, writing, postings etc.in order to bring psychological and physical damages by attempting to isolate Tigreans. Under the watch of the current leadership, more than ever before, such ill-fated actsagainst Tigreans and killings are occurring overtly and publicly. Several off limit provocative actions and infuriating campaigns are undertaking in the country to systematically isolate, marginalize, attack, and kill Tigreans. Very well-organized conspiracies and collaborated forces are jointly working 24/7 to discredit, smear, dishonor, tarnish the accomplishments of TPLF/EPRDF. The premier has failed to unequivocally and openly denounce such persistent efforts. In fact, he himself is now fueling and synergizing his supporters by throwing and saying some ambiguous words through his uncontrolled and uncensored tongue. These organized and continued efforts to discredit and abolish TPLF are not only a historical sequela but also is a grave offense against the morality of its constituents, the Tigreans.

Apparently, these forces are financed and supported by external foreign forces, some their benefits are negatively impacted, others worried by the economic progressesin Ethiopiaand a few, their socioeconomic policies and agenda are challenged. These different forces have determinedly worked, selfishly sabotaged, andsavagely plannedby streamlining their resourcesto one and only one ultimate goal-to cripple and annihilate TPLF and eventually weaken Tigreans and diminish their role in Ethiopia’s politics.

The goal of these wicked individuals hasoriginated from the realization of the fact that TPLF is at the epicenter of theeconomic progress and the infrastructure constructions occurring in today’s Ethiopia. Importantly, these groups blindly believe that the political integrity and the social fabric of the current day Ethiopia is policed and protected by only TPLF and Tigreans,undermining and demeaning the roles played by members of the EPRDF’s coalition and other minority ethnic groups.

The expectation of many when theincumbent premier came to power is that he will focus on real policy issues that help bring changes that nourish the democratization process in Ethiopia and enhance its economic, social and infrastructural developments.  However, he is rather observed and obsessed in discrediting, belittling and denigratingTPLF/EPRDF. In fact, he was reported saying that thereare no any positive achievements in Ethiopia and if there is, the credit is given to the public but not to TPLF/EPRDF at all. He was heard boldly saying, TPLF/EPRDF is only responsible and accountable for all the failures, setbacks, adversities, and misfortunes that have occurred in the past 27 years.

In a nutshell, the premier should have started his journey by appreciating TPLF/EPRDF while diligently working to create a transparent and efficient system that helps in pinpointing and fighting corrupted officials and their enablers. He rather has chosen to disparage all observable and undeniable developmental efforts of TPLF/EPRDF, while he excuseswarmongersand creating special affiliations with individuals, groups, and medias that have been persistently promoting genocide on a specific ethnic group. It has been unwise move for him to deny the political environment that brought Ethiopia to its current state of development both economically and politically.

In theory, it is oftentimes easy to talk about love and unity but in practice, it is not always possible particularly in an environment where there exist many incompatibilities in the mix. What Dr. Abiy is trying to mix are various individuals or groups with varied and incompatible characters, goals, and agenda. Otherwise, I think there will be any normal person who would hate to enjoy the benefits of love and unity. The question is how can love and unitybe cultivated and implemented in the real world.

I hope the premier will get treatment for his denial syndrome and come up with gauged tone and start navigating his train into the right direction instead of acting and reacting in an unplanned way and creating a hostile political environment or chaos here and there.Otherwise, “Denial does not solve the problem. Denial does not make the problem go away. Denial does not give us peace of mind, which is what we are really seeking when we engage in it. Denial is a liar. It compounds the problem, because it keeps us from seeing a solution, and taking action to resolve it.” Bill Kortenbach.

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