During the last two decades or more the ruling party Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) claimed that it was able to rule the country in a peaceful and stable manner by respecting the rights of the diverse ethnic groups through a multinational federal democratic system. So far it functioned as a coalition of four national parties that represent four of the nine states that formed the country.
While many opposition parties and scholars challenged the idea of multinationalism as a divisive factor, there are also others that go for it. Now that EPRDF is mulling over merging itself from in to a unified multinational party, how it will accommodate multinationalism is becoming a hot agenda.
EPRDF officials agreed that the merger will help the ruling party to practice real democracy. Politicians also stated that merger will never contravene the idea of recommencing multinationalism, and it is also indispensable for rectifying past errors.
Oromo Federalist Congress Party Chairperson Professor Merara Gudina told The Ethiopian Herald that merger is very important for the country to clear up the crises which the front created during its leadership role thus far. He added that the merger is crucial for allowing equal rights for every individuals and exercising federalism and multinationalism across the country. Though the idea is important for the country, as an opposing party we wait and see until the idea on the ground, he added.
Professor Merara also emphasized that if the ruling party exercises the idea, it will be considered as the last favor for the country which the party has committed. Though we should not expect miracles, it is helpful to accommodate diversity, multinationalism and practicing the real democracy nationwide. Also we, along with all Ethiopians, are ready to challenge the government if it fails to live up to its words and go against the interests of citizens. Therefore, the
government should take this golden opportunity for resuming the reform, he noted.
On the hand Fekadu Tessema, Head of EPRDF’s Political and Civic Affairs revealed that the merger will lead towards a clear federalism that is capable of answering the public’s age-old demands besides giving equal opportunity for each individual across the nation.
Additionally, he explained that the essence of federal system and the merger of parties will never contradict. Making one party does not mean that changing the constitution and the federal system. Because changing constitution or federal system needs citizen’s participation and decision, he added.
Speaking for The Ethiopian Herald, Meskerem Abera Lecture at Hawassa University under History Department said, the merger will eliminate schism although there will be language and culture constraint among individuals. It is a very big opportunity for EPRDF for trying to solve its own problem by itself. The idea of merger by the ruling party will help each individual to participate directly and equally for each authority apart from avoiding past errors, she added.
According to her, institutionalizing ethnic politics, excluding allied parties in major political decisions, power dominancy, and lack of equality and losing of multi-nationalism were some of errors by the ruling party especially before the reform period. Therefore, the merger will help for avoiding such errors and building strong democracy across the country. The people of Ethiopia should understood that if any party refuses to accept the merger, there will be hidden agenda or regretting on losing the prior power dominancy, she revealed.
Consequently; as the idea will lead Ethiopians for economic development and avoiding worrying about specific nation and identity, the government should stable with its stance.
Tesfaye Beljige, member of EPRDF’s Executive Committee also told Amharic daily ‘Addis Zemen’ that the merger will be implemented based on citizen’s right listed on the constitution. He also stressed that the coalition would never violate the rights of every nation, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. As central theme of the merger is making Ethiopia great, every member, supporter and the management should strive for ratifying and implementing it.
All things considered, both government officials and politicians agreed that the merger will give equal opportunity for every individual across the nation. While officials stressed that the party will strive for making Ethiopia big, politicians stated that it is better to evaluate the party after things started to be implemented.
November 16/2019
BY HIZKEL HAILU
