(Serbessa K. June 11th , 2019)
PM Abiy Ahmed wrongly considered as saver of Ethiopia. He is rather a saver of EPRDF, the regime that ruled Ethiopia brutally for 28 years or more. EPRDF survived through Abiy and the relief measures they took from the massive popular uprising which was not stopped by two State of Emergency, thousands killings and mass imprisonment. The popular uprising as a flood was to take them towards the hell.
Abiy and his friends managed to talk sweet what Ethiopians want to hear in manner no former regime leaders of EPRDF has spoke to the public. The sweet talk rewarded him the trust and support before the Ethiopian people check his substance and essence.
The regime that terrorised majority of Ethiopians for more than 28 years with all its might, cadres, money, security service is still the king of Ethiopia with no significant individuals or groups brought to justice for the crime they committed on Ethiopians. Ethiopia’s looted multi billions dollar worth wealth by the officials of EPRDF is not yet returned. Those who ordered, organised, arranged mass killings, imprisonment, displacement are either they are in happy retirement, or serving as ambassadors or laughing abroad or still they work in EPRDF as if they are change agent.
Only 3 people whom we know are currently in prison, Major General Kinfe Dagnew, Berket Simon and Tadese Tinkeshu . These people are accused of not crime they committed on Ethiopian people but on the money they control they didn’t share other EPRDF members as they wish when they were director or board chairmen of METEC and Amhara Development Organization. (Just personal vendetta). The Ethiopian people got nothing so far in terms of justice from EPRDF crime and sin.
The current Ethiopian prime minster Abiy Ahmed has served as a child soldier, intelligence officer (spy) and OPDO political operatives with in the TPLF led EPRDF regime. With his sweet words, he managed to capture the public audience in the early days of his regime. The sweet words haven’t yet practised. What he preaches and what is put in practice is contradictory. Most of us trusted, believed what he preached and gave him support. He failed to use the public support he received in the early days of his regime for good and new Ethiopia. He failed to implement reconciliation, justice, forgiveness, people to people and political parties dialogue for better Ethiopia. The true picture of PM Abiy and his regime is now visible. Under his watch, 4 millions of Ethiopians are displaced, thousands are killed and billions dollar worth properties destroyed. Under his watch ethnic hate agenda and propaganda dominated Ethiopia; Citizenship based political atmosphere is dissipated.
The displacement and ethnic clash was never seen to this extent in modern Ethiopia even in 27 years of TPLF/EPRDF brutal regime. Abiy and his friends facilitated and gave green light for armed OLF to reign in Ethiopia, cause terror and mayhem while disarming other oppositions. He didn’t utter a single word naming OLF as culprit, instead he attributed or signposted all sins on TPLF. Abiy changed the state structure for his sake and adulation instead of real, genuine and functioning organs.
Abiy is best actor for television and media. He created good image for himself publically doing superficial things while deep down he is doing the same EPRDF job except change in tune from TPLF dominated to OPDO (ODP) dominated EPRDF. He managed magically to hijack the Ethiopian people struggle for other form of oppressive regime he is nurturing.
Compared to his colleagues, Ably has gained undeserving applause and clap from Ethiopians and foreigners beyond his contribution or initiative towards the “reform” we see in Ethiopia . As the majority of Ethiopians were living in desperate oppressive systems, anyone who is in the front seat or announcer gets the attention for the “relief” measure the regime taken in terms of releasing prisoners (who shouldn’t be in prison), inviting political parties (who shouldn’t leave their country), making peace with Eritrea (war shouldn’t have happened )etc. All these were the sins of TPLF/EPRDF to put people in prison, to oust political competitors and label them terrorist etc. The relief measures were not Abiy’s bold personal initiatives but these were agreed and decided by the executive members of EPRDF party he chairs to save themselves from the public wrath and wave of protest that was to destroy them.
Had they been genuine, the regime should have clearly asked for forgiveness from the people, compensate those whom they kill, imprison, dispossessed, ousted and to all Ethiopians by either handing over power or forming all stakeholders transitional government which could lead to democratic governance. But none, except relief measure to extend the EPRDF life in new way!
The EPRDF and Abiy didn’t want to bring these changes but the peaceful struggle of Ethiopians and especially the youth forced them to do so. It is their survival and coping means for the regime! They reached in early 2018 to a stage that the regime was to be flooded and be out of action by the popular uprising all over the country. The regime metamorphosis and reform itself to survive with those relief solutions. That is what happening in Ethiopia. It neither genuine nor radical change that the people aspired to achieve by dismantling the divide and rule Policy of TPLF/EPRDF once and for all. Had it not been for the relief measure the regime took, by these time TPLF/EPRDF would have been history and wouldn’t exist as the flood was to take them towards the hell.
Sadly once again vicious political circus presenting itself with sweet talk and do he usual approaches. How long this will last? The people have to continue the struggle for genuine democratic governance.
Abiy’s behaviour this day in regard to Ethiopian medical doctors and the prominent journalist and human right activist Eskinder Nega is so alarming. He used government force (Police security forces) he commands including the mob he indirectly control (Qerros) to control Eskinder not to meet with his fellow or talk publicly. Dictators are terrified of democrats, human right advocates and genuine people advocates. Systematically he is also destroying the famous ESAT media through his inside people as pre-emptive strike to avoid what ESAT will do in exposing his sweet talk, reality behind the scene and political tragedy he and his cliques planned and set out for Ethiopia. The role of ESAT media in exposing and inciting public outrage against TPLF/EPRDF was very enormous.
Unless confronted and forced towards good direction, Abiy could led the country potentially to painful disasters. He is developing benevolent narcissistic and megalomaniac traits as the days pass. He might lose his insight and send us to the usual or more dangerous era or abyss. We need to tell him the truth, confront him and treat his losing insight while standing for more human Ethiopia.
It is too trusting and foolishness to expect radical change from EPRDF; it is like expecting a bird chick from Serpent’s egg. Either EPRDF should committee suicide or get diluted by other political parties in meaningful way to result in lasting change that would offer opportunity for new political transition towards inclusive democratic beginning. Abiy’s EPRDF control the whole state structure from Kebele of the most rural area up to the metropolitan Addis Ababa. The oppositions political organisations are in hypnosis , day dreaming and fantasising winning an election in state structure and web all controlled by EPRDF. They better wake up before it is too late and demand for genuine all stake holders transitional government instead of waiting for Election which is 100 % under the control of EPRDF. The new election board though appear independent, it is so lame and will not able to control the well formed EPRDF state political structure from the remote to the centre.
Abiy and EPRDF should be forced by peaceful civil uprising and demonstration to form genuine transitional government which comprise all stake holders with mandate to stabilise the country, organise genuine reconciliation, justice and forgiveness and dialogue among Ethiopian people and political organisation. All stake holders transitional government should be tasked for genuine radical changes like changing the Constitution of TPLF/EPRDF, tear the TPLF made up ethnic politics and pseudo federal system and transit to democratic governance and society where citizens and group right are fully respected.
The people and the hypnotised opposition political parties have to understand that Abiy and his cliques agenda carefully. So far he managed to steal the show through his sweet talk, superficial acting while covertly he is continuing the same EPRDF status quo inform of Oromo dominated EPRDF in Ethiopia.
It is going to be up to the people, specially the youth and all stake holders to define our future. The struggle has to continue! Otherwise it is gone be another uphill and suffering for indefinite time. It is an extreme negligence to leave the fate of our country in one man or his cliques.