Being an Ethiopian is all related with being a human. A person may ask herself / himself why s/he is created or why s/he happened to be a human being. There is also a land from where one hails. But the world proves a very big place. A man may rack his mind why he was born in a certain country, from a particular family. He may ponder why he belonged to the menfolk. He would wonder about his identity and place of origin just because he is a human being.
I was born under Ethiopian skies where the mystery and basis of my existence resides. Thus, my identity is revealed by where I was born and raised. This identity is encapsulated by a feature which is Ethiopian. It is not difficult to explain; it is rather very easy. Even though, I share the same nature with the Nigerians, Kenyans or Chinese etc, there is a unique identity that we all have. I am an Ethiopian.
These are the words of the famous Ethiopian human rights activist, Obang Metho. He enunciated when he was asked how he can describe being Ethiopian. He is EPA’s guest for today and will discuss the overall current situations in Ethiopia.
Question: How do you describe the love for ones’ nation and its people would be born?
Obang: Love would be born from the place someone is raised. When a person is brought up in a wise manner, s/he would possess love. When that person nurtures his/ her human nature and develops wisdom, the love will unfurl. People spend more time introspecting every second, every minute and every hour every day. When they spend time with their own selves that means they are thinking. And if they think that they have responsibilities and they are good people, they are embracing positive thoughts. There may be people who do not even bother about the purpose of life or being human. There may be people who do not observe or heed things while they have eyes that can see and ears that can hear.
When we talk about national love, one cannot bring or give what is not inside him or her. Loving a nation begins by loving ones’ self. One that loves his/ her self will love his/ her neighbor, environment and Country. On the contrary, those who have no love for their own selves would not love but they would betray their countries. People commit suicide when they are empty from the inside and lose meaning or purpose in life. Therefore, those who are empty from inside do not care if their country is destroyed for they do not understand that the destruction of their nation is self-destruction. This means they have lost hope.
A person who loves his/her country participates in every socioeconomic and political aspect to correct the bad and promote the good as well as raise her / his children with the right ethics and national pride. The right example for this is a farmer. If a farmer sows a good seed and takes a good care of his farm, s/he will enjoy a bumper harvest. Loving ones’ nation is analogues to this fact. The repercussions of former political trends, that have been spreading hatred and disintegration are affecting the current generation.
Even though politics is a game related to winning, it has not to be in the perspective of destroying the nation or generations. This has been evidenced in Ethiopia as some few people
voiced complaint that they were suppressed and started armed struggle [with the Derg regime]. When they came to power, instead of correcting the past mistakes their strategy was focused on driving divisive wedges among the people. That is because there was no positive thought inside them. They had concluded that anything in common or social fabric is their worst enemy. As a result equality, Ethiopianism, and all the good historical facts of solidarity— peoples’ basic sources of strength— were buried. Most of all, they tried to revoke national identity from citizens.
The people were given ethnic identities. When the residents of Addis Ababa had been living together for long and identifying themselves by the several names of blocks that they live in; like Piassa, Shiromeda, Kazanchis etc, their difference in ethnicity was never an issue. But then they divided the people based on ethnicity as a controlling mechanism. This was done not for ensuring equality but only to maintain power.
People around the world have been exercising suppressive methods towards the furtherance of their power and expansion of lands. There was not one group or ethnicity that has not faced the same fate. All had suffered. They [the former TPLF leaders at the helm of the EPRDF administration] had tried to efface the history of past leaders.
When the Ethiopian national pride is embraced, it would become wisdom, strength and development. But this group of people has been trying to impose on citizens a fake ethnic identity. When it comes to reality, our ancestors had intermingled by marriage and shared their meals and drinks. They did live together for too long without ethnic borders.
Question: Now, how can the Nation bring back such values?
Obang: We have to sow the seeds of equality, unity and Ethiopian national pride and stand together to protect it. God has created human beings, who cannot survive without one another. If a mother elephant dies the baby may walk and feed itself without any support. But a human baby cannot survive alone. S/ he has to be held in warm hands before, he/she starts walking.
Mankind is different from other animals for it is God’s handiwork with knowledge power and responsibilities. Meanwhile, in the Ethiopian context the constitution itself does not say “we humans, or Ethiopians or citizens”; it rather begins with “we Nations Nationalities and Peoples”. The educational system by itself does not promote knowledge but copying. The academic difference between the students during the times of people like Bealu Girma (a famous Ethiopian Author and Journalist) and the current generation is unbearable. Had the system was kept right, our unique Amharic Alphabet would have served not only Ethiopia but the whole black community all over the world. The colonial powers used to restrict Africans not to progress above fifth grade because they do not want them to have a knowledge a tad above reading and writing. The same is true here as students in Ethiopia are made to complete high school at tenth grade with lesser quality of education.
Question: Do you ascribe this to politics?
Obang: Exactly.
Question: So how do you suggest politics and being a politician should go along?
Obang: I believe being a politician is a big job. There are billions of people around the globe who are led by few people. And these leaders are chosen to lead their people from hardship to better life. A real leader knows that s/he has responsibilities. On the other hand, a leader is a person who works voluntarily. A voluntary job done for the sake of others is always positive. There are people who work with compassion and responsibility. If one has to be an actual political leader, s/he needs to provide a program that can change citizens’ lives. Instead of talking about a past history, it is better to build hospitals and create a condition that could prevent maternal mortality. It is best to improve the educational system and produce competitive students that stand shoulder high in the global arena.
A real leader does not vouch for narrow nationalism or ethnicity. Such, leaders pay sacrifices. Mankind is made by the sacrifices of mothers. So leaders have to reflect they are on the administrative position not only because they are humans but because they have responsibilities.
Even if I am from the Agnwak ethnicity, I have to work for the benefits of others as a politician. There are only few leaders who are committed to improve the lives of the people.
The agricultural produces are taken to market by pack animals on the 21st century and the farmers have to walk all the way there. Sixty percent of the population does not have access to electricity and only few get access to clean water. Had there been an honest political system in the Country, all these gaps would have been filled and the peoples’ lives would have chanced a turn around.
So many activities had been started during Haile Silassie’s regime. But the Derg aborted them and started from scratch. The EPRDF came to power and did the same. But this did not take us anywhere; it took us backwards instead. During the time of emperor Menelik II, there was a great national love. As such people gathered from all over the country and won the battle of Adwa trekking there barefooted.
Question: What is your say on the current reform underway in the country?
Obang: We have been in the dark before Prime Minister Dr. Abiy came to power. We have had these bad perceptions that the country would disintegrate and blood would be spilled. There was time that journalists were labeled as terrorists to be put behind bars. Many were imprisoned. Meanwhile, a large swath of the diaspora was inspired when Dr. Abiy came to power. Abiy was accepted by many because he spoke of unity and about Ethiopia repeatedly. The ones before him did not mention Ethiopia. They even degraded the country to the extreme. They drink the cow’s milk abandoning it.
But Abiy has won acceptance by the people, including me, not because he hails from the Oromo people, not even because of his political ideology but because of his Ethiopianism. Every one regained hope.
However, there is still a problem, which comes from the Constitution itself that puts Ethiopians not as citizens of one country but as a disintegrated Nations, Nationalities and Peoples. The other problem is that there is no transparent ideological fight between politicians. But this would lead to more destruction. National consensuses have to be made with good faith. It is crucial to make peace not only with the people and family but also with the land itself.
Currently, a finger counted TPLF leaders have pressed ahead with their evil jobs from where they took refuge. It looks like as if they are operating from another foreign Country. This has no acceptance. There are no conversations with the TPLF. People are blaming the Prime Minister. But one man cannot solve the problem alone.
There are youths without inkling about the rights of people. No surprise they would be easily manipulated to wrong ends just by an individual. If they are not sensitized and those who would exploit them are controlled, the outcome would be worst. If the ethnic based media outlets and their destructive transmissions based on fake narratives are not barred, things would be difficult. The people are still good; but the ethnic politicians and popular ones are not cooperative.
Question: What would be the best solution in order to tackle these problems as a Country?
Obang: Bringing the solution cannot be left for the government alone. It is not a job that the Prime Minister could pull off by himself. Everyone has to think and work with a positive heart and determination. We have to teach the generation about positivity. Ethnicity has become a commercial game as the TPLF leaders are pouring fuel on the government’s problems to create anarchy.
Question: What would be your comment on current developments concerning the GERD?
Obang: If an individual leaves her/his door ajar and go to sleep, a thief will be welcomed. If a person loses her/his national pride, enemies would subjugate and exploit him. The Egyptian leaders harbor the widest dream of disintegrating Ethiopia. And there are some who are fatuous or empty from inside to the extent of becoming Trojan horses to the enemy. If patriots and martyrs who tooth and nail fought colonizers in the battle of Adwa to prove their Ethiopian national pride emerging victories come from the dead and see this tragic unfolding, they would be heart broken.
Mindful of this fact, everyone has to discharge her/his responsibility for the betterment of the future generation. We have to end poverty and migration and leave a strong cornerstone that is worth it in the future history. (Translated from Addis Zemen)
The Ethiopian Herald July 26, 2020
BY HENOK TIBEBU
