ADDIS ABABA- Former President of Ethiopia Dr. Negasso Gidada passed away Saturday April 27, 2019 aged 76.
Dr. Negasso was born on September 8, 1943 in Dembi Dolo, Wellega of Oromia regional state in western Ethiopia, Dr. Negaso Gidada studied History at the Haile Sellasie 1st University (now Addis Ababa
University) from 1966 to 1971. From 1971 to 74, he served as school director and history teacher in Aira, Western Wallaga. He left for Germany in October 1974 and lived there until July 1991.
During this time he studied History in the department of Ethnology at the J.W.Goethe University in Frankfurt. Dr. Negasso was one of the earliest members of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in exile.
During the 1991 regime change in Ethiopia Dr. Negaso left Germany for Ethiopia and joined former Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO), now ODP, which makes up one of the four coalitions of the ruling party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front (EPRDF).
In Ethiopia one of the milestones of Dr. Negaso’s political activities in early 1990s was to become a member of the Constitutional Drafting Committee, which was tasked to draft the present Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE).
Dr. Negaso also served as Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly, which adopted the current constitution. In 1995, he became the first Head of State of the FDRE and had signed on the proclamation that adopted the final copy of the constitution, which remained intact, but controversial, as of yet.
Dr. Negasso served as President of Ethiopia from 1995 to 2001, died last Saturday in Germany where he was taking treatment.
Negasso, who has been active in Ethiopia’s politics for more than three decades, holds a doctorate degree in social history from the Goethe University in Frankfurt-am-Main.
Dr. Negaso served as minister of information in the transitional government, and as Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly, which adopted the current constitution. In 1995, he became the first President of the Federal Government.
A national committee to oversee the funeral arrangements is going to be established and will communicate the details of the funeral program, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
The Ethiopian Herald April 30/2019
BY TEWODROS KASSA
