This column presents the message what Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) conveyed during the inaugural ceremony of Ashara Book, which was published by the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) in connection with its 80th year anniversary on June 7. I don’t know that the program is organized like this. We passed the morning in Gondar, and the afternoon in Debre Markos. I came here thinking that coffee is served when Ethiopian Press Agency organized this program.
The very important thing that made me come here is since the EPA is a legacy and when such a giant organization invites me while launching a grand work, it is important to respect such an influential organization. The Ethiopian Press Agency is an iconic entity that has been the source of a lot of news, a multitude of information, and it has now been serving as a viable source of history. I am really glad to be here witnessing the launching of the book while it is celebrating its 80th year birthday.
Since Dr. Berhanu Lenjiso, Dr. Fitsum Assefa, and Assistant Professor Abebaw Ayalew have taken time and elaborated about the book, I have scrupulously listened to them and get excited as I was also looking at the book in a bird’s eye view fashion. I mean it is quite different to view scenarios as a speaker and a reader. What we have drawn from this book as an important thing is that everybody does have ideas, they utter their ideas in words, words are translated into action bedecked with mesmerizing and flowery expressions, and practice leaves legacy. The very bridge between words and legacies is a book.
I don’t see solely the idea; instead putting it on the one side and the practice on the other to show generations the legacy. Since this book is indispensable for the generation, I would like to extend my heartiest gratitude to EPA for they have taken time and prepared this historic chronicle. It is an incomparable move to root down our constructive deeds and transcend them to the generation as memorable legacies.
Since a legacy requires hard work, we could hardly see bequest unless we labor from dawn to dusk as hard work pays off. If we work hand in glove to make a difference in all aspects that highly benefits a generation, and device viable mechanisms to pass down to the posterity, sure it is possible to ensure the prosperity we have long aspired in Ethiopia. The key for change and prosperity is at our palm.
What Dr. Berhanu Lenjiso spoke of man-made and natural catastrophe reminded me something and I was taking a note. Many people are heard of saying that a number of displacements, conflict, war, corona impact, flood as well as instabilities have been widely witnessed over the past three years. Yes, we have known that there were many real problems and challenges. However, when we compare these ups and downs with what we had encountered over the past ten years, we have never met the geopolitics perplexity as we have right now been facing.
Some compare the current situation in the north with the Ethio-Eritrean conflict while others associate it with Karamara. Since I was a soldier, all have difference; the reason is that when we fought against Italy, we took what we had, and they took their weapons. When we fought Eritrea, we used what we had and they did similar. The case of Karamara was the same. But now, the battle is by our own Kalashnikovs, by our ammunition and army to destroy our own defense.
Neither we nor the enemy have power, but the core of our force is under the control of the enemy but 70 and 80 percent of the weapons were with us. We trusted our arms and began the war. We did not expect this to happen and as estimated, the war is not over yet. Although we are still going through these and similar problems, it is sufficient to place the display only on what we consider to be the best when compared to those cases.
There were 10 large sugar factories whose constructions were started some seven, eight or nine and ten years ago but we could not complete them. At that time, there were no sanction talks, internal or external pressures and conflicts in both the north and east. But in the last three-year times of crises, we have completed 7 sugar factories. How we could not start and finish a project in a relatively peaceful time? But in these times of crises, we did not only start but we have spent over 92 billion Birr budget to complete them.
By the way, the eighth Wolkait Sugar Factory has been completed. The biggest problem is sugarcane that we need to build another dam and hold water in order to produce it. Regarding Agro-Industrial Park, we have started construction with four in a relatively good time but three of them are completed in a comparatively bad time. As well, if we take industrial parks into account, in addition to Kombolcha, Mekelle and Hawassa, and we began and completed eight industrial parks within these last three years accompanied with bustles and hastles.
Jimma, Adama, Semera, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar, Debre Berhan, Bole Lemi One and Two have been completed in the last three years. It was in these three years that the ones started, such as INSA and the defense buildings, as well as others that took ten years to complete were finalized. In terms of dams, Negele Dawa did not produce energy though it was completed before three years as it could not save water. After the reform, we produced energy by holding the water. Koisha also stopped working and the GERD is as known.
What makes the Renaissance and Tana Beles different is that after we identified the problem, we took five months to set up a new fundraiser and resources to remove unnecessary items that seemed to have installed in the factory without entering it. The case of Renaissance Dam was also the same to remove the unnecessarily installed mechanical parts. This is as a result of the saying ‘Dream comes true’; our thinking shows that we can achieve what we set out to do in any situation if we work up to our plans and hammer on their implementation process.
It would be wrong to try to see that this was not the case. It was sunny when you came here three hours ago. It is impossible to deny the sun, but we can cover our eyes. Perhaps it is possible to get self-darken, but unthinkable to deny the existence of the sun—which is the ever source of light and heat for the whole world. Many people now find it difficult to believe and accept the real change that is coming because they have closed their eyes and their imaginations. This is nonsense and against Ethiopia’s prosperity and renaissance.
This is not useful for Ethiopia’s prosperity. The other thing, those of you who are at the leadership position of various public offices have to work hard for further remarkable success instead of boasting of what you have done so far. At present day Ethiopia, it would not be possible to ensure prosperity if we launch 10 sugar projects and completing solely 7 ones and 4 agro-industries and completing three. It is if and only if when we commence 10, we are expected to accomplish 15 and 20.
We all have to think over and tactically manage things as we are left with a long journey to trek. Nigerians have a saying: “If 50 hunters come out and ten hunters come back with a lion, they will be met later. They will be praised and sung. However, if 50 of the 40s were eaten by a lion, the lions would not be able to write their story and they would not have anything to tell them.” History should be a defender of truth, not just of winners.
That’s why heroes who write often have heroes written for them, unwritten and unsung; many heroes left with their unwritten history and we have nothing to learn from them. In this regard, the Ethiopian Press Agency, in my opinion, is a fingerprint, so if not only my speeches but also the speeches of other Ethiopians who have better knowledge than me can be recorded in this way and passed on to future generations.
Today’s and tomorrow’s news are a mix of history; if the news you hear today is distorted, it twists our future. If we work to prevent the spread of false news, then the sum of that news will be true history to be passed on to the future generations. I entrust those people who write in this spirit to care as much as possible, not only for our today’s emotional states but also for our children. Beyond and above, reading books is good and that we should respect authors besides broadening the skills and we need to protect literatures for the next generation.
I have understood something from what Assistant Professor Abebaw said. Right you are, but we shouldn’t restrict Ethiopia’s literature to a hundred year history based on newspapers distributed by people. Ethiopia’s history was transferred from generation to generation via paintings, sculptures, in writing since 1000 years ago.
Since ours has not been well articulated and well presented, AU’s official languages are solely Arabic, English, Portuguese, and French. Even a single African language is not incorporated. Hence, we are not supposed to shrink down our history to 100 year old one so long as we do have our own alphabet, pass down Holy Bible and Quran handwritten.
We have to take care of our explanations, if we say this in a country where chronicles accounting for 1000 years in writings in Geez and Amharic, others can take it for granted. These days they are in a position to allow us to have Africans’ languages in AU. This is why the killers write, the lions couldn’t. So please the lions wake up!
Ethiopian renaissance, peace and prosperity are going to be hit whether we like or not. The main thing is to be part of this momentous interchange. As we think and speak of, I cordially urge all to pass memorable and lucrative legacy to generation especially in planting tree seedlings.
BY STAFF REPORTERS
The Ethiopian Herald June 9/2021
