A Mixed Feeling About Prime Minister Meles leaving office.

Abraham Leakemariam 06/26/09

 This time PM Meles seems determined to leave office for good. Even though he has been saying it for a while we didn’t take it seriously. But at this time I am in the opinion that it should be taken as a reminder before the bomb shell drops. I congratulate him for his courage’s and firm decision even if I agree with his decision or not. I also know that my opinion doesn’t weigh a gram of stone to persuade him to stay in power. Equally I am not in any shape or form to endorse his departure either. Here I am only to express what I feel about the prime minister that lead the party that governed Ethiopia for the last eighteen years.

 The decision is his and every one should respect that. We could only wish him well in his future endeavors. We wish him to have a normal life like any other citizen in the country which he fought hard for it prosperity, tranquility and justice.

We also thank him for the wonderful jobs he did despite all the difficulties he faced in the eighteen years of his stay in power. His accomplishments are written in bold and solid letters in the history book of the nation. We admire him for his unsolicited dedication and hard work that lead him to be what he is today. We will not forget his wit, honesty and corrupt free status of mind.

The undeniable progress that enabled the Ethiopian people to see the light at the end of the tunnel is part of his achievement. The deniers may say what achievement but to day things in Ethiopia are living witness. The sacrifice paid by the sons and daughter of the nation is not left unanswered. Regardless what his adversaries tried to portray him he is a leader indeed in need.  

His departure will be an open mine field for the media speculators and spine doctors. Who is going to replace him? We have to wait and see will be the final answer.

Prime Minister, at times we may not agree with your decision but we take at face value and we put the trust on you. Under your leadership the country has leaped forward from backwardness by many strides. Democracy is trying to put one foot step forward but hasn’t reach its destination yet. We believe, you made some mistakes but we forgive you because decision makers can make wrong decisions under duration too. And also we know people with good intention are most likely to make mistakes rather than the people looking for criticism.

Your political adversaries may take this with a grain of salt. You have been proven who you are with solid achievements inside the country and in the international arena.  Your fight to keep the then OAU the present AU head office in Addis is a living witness of your diplomatic skill. I can go on and on but my intention is not to right your credentials but to express my opinion in a balanced and admissible manner.

People may be wondering why now. Why he doesn’t stay at least until to the next election and resign after the election.

For EPRDF the 2010 election is a done deal. It will need more than a miracle to an opposition party organize it self within a year and grab a power. The intolerance opposition parties are already stabbing each other rather than agree to disagree with the ruling party.

Some one might raise the scenario of 2005 general election that led CUD to win unprecedented number of seats. What proof do we have that won’t happen again?. From a political stand point view this election will be likely about deliverance of service not about who you are. But in the mean time people’s voice should have the ultimate say.

The 2005 election was a learning experience for the EPRDF and gave a destruction manual to the CUD party. The unprecedented vote inflates the party beyond the prescribed atmospheric pressure and exploded into pieces. At the same time EPRDF learned from their mistakes dwell on it. They used the election result as a survey and made hundred eighty degree turn to listen to the people they gave a deaf ear before.  I am hesitant to believe when some of the statements given by TPLF officials that the party came to its sense after the renewal of the movement. It would have been fair to say after the slap on the back by the voters in election 2005. A political party should have an ear to listen to peoples concern than relying solely on its own assessments and solutions.
That is what election is about, building on your strength and improving your deficits. When we look back at election of 2005 a lesson can be drawn that a peaceful election and transition of power is possible if we minimize the confusion and educate the voters.  

The surge of CUD party was a false alarm. They didn’t earn the vote rather it was a protest vote. I am confident at this time the voters won’t repeat it because both the electors and the electives have learned the mistakes of the past. They can see now with their own eyes where their country is heading.

Beside the unknown reasons there are many reasons to speculate why PM Meles wants to step down from his position at this time when the country needs a strong leader like him.

As I tried to explain on the above paragraphs he is fully confident that his party is going to win with him or without him as a leader.

Secondly, he might have couched some one for the job, or know some one that can handle the job. The EPRDF is stuffed with new elite members of the society. There are new blood junior members highly educated joined as of recently.  There is no doubt that he will be more comfortable if some one who earns his trust is staying in power.

The other reasons could personal and can be categorized in the following manner.

We know that he spent his youth and adult hood years in the struggle and didn’t get the opportunity to enjoy life with is family.  Power by itself is a voluntary prison.  He wants to spent time with his family, and his kids need him to spent time with them rather than always stuck in the office. Like any ex- presidents and premiers he may have the ambition to write his memoirs.

To set by example that power can be transfer without bloodshed or uprising.

To be the first Ethiopian ruler that hands power to the next generation peace fully. In conclusion we have to respect the desire and the ambition of the prime minister that worked hard from his entire youth and adult life for the purpose of the well being of the country. We only wish him well but before his departure we urge him to finish the unfinished business with Eritrea , to declare The Hague decision officially DEAD, NULL, VOID. Please take some of the incompetent and corrupt officials with you and revisit some of your decisions still it is not to late.

Thank you.