BY TEWODROS KASSA
Yesterday, Ethiopians celebrated the 17th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ day under the theme ‘Our united national unity for lasting peace.’
The day was marked warmly and colorfully at Hawassa Town, Sidama State in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, federal and states’ high-level government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, Speaker of the House of peoples’ Representatives Tagesse Chafo, invited guests and residents of the State and the surrounding areas.
In relation to the Day, Prime Minister Abiy extended his best wishes to all Ethiopians. As to him, the festival of nationalities is the celebration of Ethiopianism. Ethiopianism is a manifestation of the common and unity of the nationalities [in the country]. Ethiopianism is a common identity where the values, cultures, histories, heritages, languages and arts of the nationalities are manifested together. “If we want Ethiopia and Ethiopianism to emerge victorious on the world stage, we must create a way for all of us to be victorious. The question is how we can create it,” he questioned.
“We can all be winners when we can build an Ethiopia that belongs to all of us. We can do things that we say were not done in the past in the Ethiopia, we are building tomorrow. We will be able to correct the flaws that we say should not have been done in the past in the Ethiopia that will be built tomorrow. We can build the Ethiopia that will be for all of us if we all focus on tomorrow,” he underscored.
As to him, it is possible to build Ethiopia in two wise ways. The first is by allowing ourselves to contribute from what we have, and the second by allowing all of us to gain. For the sake of survival, peace, honor and justice for our fellow Ethiopians, we must be willing to sacrifice some things from ourselves, he underscored.
“In no way we can we live, grow and win without each other. All peoples in Ethiopia are our people. All languages are our languages. All cultures are our cultures. All holidays are our holidays. All beliefs are our beliefs. All heritages are our heritage. All areas are areas of all of us. All natural resources are the resources of all of us. That is why our security forces are shedding their blood and breaking their bones in any part of the country”, the Premier accentuated.
Underscoring that Ethiopia’s time of light and glory has come, Prime Minister Abiy said that “stopping short of our goal is a huge loss.So, let’s pick up our pace and keep moving. An unfinished journey is labor in vain, and our energy will be exhausted before it is time to eat the fruits of our labor.”
Finally, the Premier called upon all Ethiopians to be united and work together. On his part,Sidama State Chief Administrator DestaLedamo said that every Ethiopian should be responsible to protect the motherland, fight poverty and strive to ensure the country’s sustainable development.
While talking what makes this year’s NNP day special, Desta said: “Marking the 17th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day after the peace agreement was signed between the federal government and TPLF to resolve the two years long conflict through dialogue makes the day special.” Federalism is a preferred government system for countries with multi-cultural, ethnic and religious diversity like Ethiopia,” he said. Accordingly, while marking NNPD it is also time to build a stronger Ethiopia through strengthening mutual cooperation and genuine unity.
Underscoring that all identities can be respected and protected if and only if there is a country and people, he said that Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples knowing the system that we have already built to let us live together in peace and with a sense of togetherness , let’s defendand prosper Ethiopia together,” he said. He also called upon all Ethiopians to work together to make poverty history and defend the country’s peace and stability
The Ethiopian Herald December10/2022
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