Last Sunday, I got up early in the morning with the intention of getting myself involved in the cleaning up campaign of Addis Ababa together with its inhabitants. The intended target of the campaign was to persuade the general public to do their utmost effort in cleaning their localities and making their environment a better place to live.
Be that as it may, when I went out of my residential houses, I stumbled upon a lot of people cleaning up their vicinity with love, unity and harmony. I did not imagine people would partake in the cleaning up campaign that early. Some of them were singing a wide spectrum of melodious songs in groups. I would say, they were elated. In due course, I joined the team at the stroke of a pen and spent sometime with them.
As usual, I did not come across cleaners who were in the habit of cleaning the streets of Addis on a regular basis. To the surprise of all, the left, right and center of the capital were filled with the inhabitants of Addis Ababa carrying brooms, spades and other related aspects. Everyone regardless of age, sexual category, ethnicity, political stand and religious affiliation was cleaning the streets of Addis. All were as busy as a bee.
In my journalistic patrol around some parts of the capital when I arrived at the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, I chanced upon Premier Abiy Ahmed and other higher government officials getting themselves involved in the campaign of cleaning up Addis Ababa. Most of the cleaners, surprised to see the premier in person, could not believe their eyes.
After some time, I approached one of the participants that go by the name Alemu Sissay to have his feelings, ideas and thoughts pertaining to the cleaning campaign. He said, “I am happy to be part of the campaign. The premier is really a unique person who knows the fundamentals of success like the back of his hand.
He spares no effort to change the image of the country and to let the country embark on the highway of success. We should all stand by the side of the premier. If we all keep our vicinity clean, the entire city will be attention-grabbing. To the best of my knowledge, we do not have to nurse grudges and sow the seeds of hatred amongst the different Nations, Nationalities and people of Ethiopia the peacefully coexisted for eons.”
The other participant named Emawayish Girma said, “The premier is a God-given gift to Ethiopia. He has really rescued the country on the brink of collapse. He is treating people of Ethiopia with a tender heart. As such surmounting hurdles the country is surging in the right direction.”
She continued, “I am extremely happy to be part of this great campaign. Through his leadership skill, the premier has been circumventing roadblocks by detractors.
As all Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia are almost impossible to tell apart, we do not have to give room for those who incite conflicts on the pretext of a range of reasons. As we all have one country and live under the umbrella of Ethiopia, we should be able to differentiate the sheep from the goats.”
“If truth be told, the cleaning up campaign plays a major role in changing the attitude of people and filling them with positive outlooks. Furthermore, we should distance ourselves from hatred and antipathy which are foreign to our nature,” she wrapped up.
Takele Uma, the Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa as well had partaken in the cleaning up campaign around Filwoha. He said, “We should all work hard with the purpose of making the city [A new flower] true to its name and cleaning our vicinity every month. As the general public, tourists and diplomats need a better city and clean air, we should all work hard day and night.”
That same day, the premier met with participants of Dine for Sheger fund at Menelik II Palace with the purpose of beautifying Sheger, changing the picture of the capital and enhancing urban tourism. The project is a three year initiative of the premier which covers fifty six kilometers.
The premier said, “In the journey of life, there are people who stir a dust and try to put their footprint on the annals of history. Raising a dust is as easy as falling off a log.
A dust floats in the air and spreads all over the place with no trouble. But a footprint could not be observed easily like that of raising a dust. As a matter of fact, it is impossible to put footprint without difficulty. Putting footprint is less noisy.”
He kept on saying, “There are people who make an effort to make history by getting themselves involved in evil acts or by string to dos. Raising a dust seems a sign of bravery but history of the cowardice does not last long.”
The Ethiopian Herald May 26/2019
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
