BY MENGESHA AMARE
There is an all-time remembered victory in Africa. Yes, not only is Adwa an Ethiopian victory but it is also that of the whole continent thanks to the real patriots claiming life for a cause. With a view to commemorating this victory, ‘Guzo Adwa’ was commenced under the theme, “Adwa for African victory.” The given theme purely reflects the unity and integrity of the African continent as a number of nations of the continent flowed under the tunnel Ethiopia hewed and declared their independence.
An event was organized to see off about 125 travelers, 18 of them are female ones, who are participating in ‘Guzo Adwa’ journey—an emblem of a well-cement unity.
Conveying her message on the occasion, Adanech Abebbie, Addis Ababa City Adimistration Deputy Mayor cited the motto comes from Abraham Lincoln’s quote, where his actual words are, “United we stand, divided we fall,” and she said, “We have to move in unison and consolidate fraternity as citizens in unity look forward to working towards a common goal instead of satisfying their own selfish motives and fatten personal gain.” said
As to the Deputy Mayor, if a country is united, nothing can wobble or perturb it. However, disunity can cause nations to be torn asunder in the face of formidable and antagonistic forces.
The strategic Tigray Peoples Libtration Front (TPLF) leaders used the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy to exploit the constantly bickering country and ruled over it in a very despotic high-handed manner though there are few good things done in the country that can be acknowledged.
She further stated that as our fathers and forefathers provided us with majestic look and courage to declare our freedom and liberty, we have to follow their footsteps and make their legacy sustainable at all levels. The very good testimony for this is the victory of Adwa.
“Unity is of utmost importance for the general society as well as the whole country. To cite the very recent phenomenon, our unification from corner to corner has helped us smash out the TPLF junta and continue trekking on the track of development and prosperity,” she added.
We have to always understand that strength is almost all the time with unity, and standing together for every thick and thin matter is the secret behind all aspects to be victorious over every trying feature of life. Unquestionably, there are numerous stories as well as real-life incidences which have proved that unity always leads to a harmonious and fulfilling life for all and fosters the effort to make a country.
Some segments of the country, who still do not understand the importance of staying in unity, keep fighting over insignificant things and end up with loneliness and hostility at the end of the day.
According to Adanech, all citizens of the nation must love their nation as well as their fellow citizens as hatred and disintegration led us nowhere. We have so far witnessed the fact for almost close to three decades that, our hostility, hatred, conflict, among others, have been pushing us all from the frying pan into the fire.
Therefore, it is time for us to make all evil acts history and committed to work in unity and in the spirit of fraternity to grow to a better lifestyle via reinvigorating national development, development, democracy, equality and unity at a larger scale.
As to her, it is obvious that national development is possible only when we maintain unity. When people help each other and provide moral as well as financial support when it is needed, sense of belongingness and patriotic spirit can be well nurtured and get entrenched in the minds of citizens. On the other hand, living in isolation will make everyone feel insecure, introvert and unproductive, too.
Adanech further added that staying united is good for the growth and posterity of new generation who will take over the nation with its future and the nation’s development, prosperity and overall change in general.
It is undeniable fact that whenever people work together, they are motivated and encouraged to be productive more than ever and they can push each other to accomplish all the desired goals as unity works as a great motivational factor.
Combating cancers of growth and development becomes much easier when there are a number of people involved. The Adwa victory—a movement, as I cited earlier, for freedom is an exemplary phenomenon along this line.
Many social evils and unjust practices have been fought and eradicated in the past only because of unity among people of Ethiopia. It will continue being the viable path for all Ethiopian to declare triumph over its enemies.
The role of the government in building unity can be achieved if each and every individual is ready to leave their own interests and work for the betterment of the nation as a whole.
Undoubtedly, this spirit must be inborn, and the government can play an important role in building unity among people.
“It is possible to cite, but a few, which can be the best steps in which making a country prosperous and a leading one can easily be attained,” Adanech stated.
Closing the leeway to maladministration and ending corruption; a country can never be prosperous if its political system is corrupt and maladministration is rampant. So, appropriate measures have to be taken upon self-centered officials who would like to amass underserved profits at the expense of the mass and pour cold water into the increased tempo for attaining the desired change and making the reform a reality. Besides, the government must make it possible through imposing the required legal measures.
Coming up with lower economic disparity; there is a lot of economic disparity in our country. As we can see that rich people are becoming richer day by day and the poor are getting poorer.
This makes the poor people adopt the criminal means that obstruct national development. The government must bridge this gap and try to work to come up with reasonable wealth distribution.
Educating and training citizens; people must be educated about many things related to the country’s development, civility, working for common goal, swallowing the essence of governing idea, entertaining ideology differences, acknowledging cultural or religious differences, to mention a few, and also about the importance of unity.
Obviously, she said, this should be made a part of the school curriculum as there are a number of means such as consultative forums, experience sharing channels and many others through which the desired target can be well hit.
“If truth be told, citizens can garner uncountable benefits out of staying in unity. Yes, they can accomplish big tasks, rely on the people in times of need and nurture youth power in a better way, make the nation sustainable passing good values from generation to generation as well as getting the roots of bad values that aggravate disintegration and hatred dried. Furthermore, safety and security can be assured by the national unity.
Every citizen must work towards having full unity in the country. In so doing, we can absolutely make the country which has been a center of hatred, rivalry, suspicion, you name it, for a long time,” Adanech added.
This year’s 8th round travel is an inviting that further cement the unity, fraternity, co-existence among nations, nationalities and people of this great nation—Ethiopia “Commemorating this every year is of overriding importance in bringing about positive thinking among citizens, solidifying unity among the community and contributing a lot to the patriotic gesticulation of the new generation,” she concluded.
‘Guzo Adwa’ Founder and Travel Coordinator, Yared Shumetie on his part said that in order to celebrate 125th Adwa’s victory this year, some 200 youths, who came from different parts of the country, have seen off travelers accompanying them for two days up to 40 kms.
Such an historical and inviting journey was commenced by 5 persons at the beginning and now the number of travellers has reached 125.
Before the travelers start journey, they are expected to know the aim of the travel, wait for three or two days to make them ready for the journey taking exercises and get tested for COVID-19, he noted.
He said, “Prior to the victory, the lives of our fathers and forefathers were claimed for their country’s liberty and for maintaining their unity,” he added.
“The Ethiopian and African Union flags will fly high in the Ethiopian sky upon the wrapping up of the ‘Guzo Adwa’,” he cited.
The Ethiopian Herald January 20/2021
