(Blog) Oromo people support new OFC in Ethiopia

The recent unity of all Oromo opposition forces under one umbrella is a dream come true for the Oromo people and a nightmare for the Habashaa politicians. Especially and most importantly, Dr. Gudina's divorce of his marriage with the Ethiopianist UEDF party has showed his party's positive growth and realization that Oromo identity comes before Ethiopian identity for ordinary Oromos.

The newly established Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) which inside sources in Oromia have creditted for the union of the powerful Oromo People's Congress (OPC) and Bulcha Damaksa's Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) groups is the only true representative party of the Oromo people. During the last national election, OPC and OFDM together won nearly 85% of the votes in Oromia before the OPDO/TPLF stole the election. The current OFC should be in better position to make decisions in unity and boycott the next election and expose TPLF's dictatorship for its Western allies. They will also be able to work together against the next TPLF spy inside the opposition and avoid the ONC crisis from repeating again.

While the OFC should dominate Oromia politics, it can also function outside Oromia without adopting the "Ethiopia label" because many millions of Ethiopians are realizing that the Oromo question is the only concern left unanswered before peace reins in the horn of Africa. In addition, over 1 million Oromos live outside Oromia because of historical Oromo migrations. In the Tigray region almost 10,000 Oromos live while half a million Oromos live in the Amhara Region. Another half a million Oromos live in the three states of SNNPR, Somali and Benshangul. Dire Dawa and Harari regions also have almost a quarter of a million Oromos. These are political resources that OFC should take advantage of to liberate Oromo people and establish a federalist system that removes Habashaa involvement in Oromo affairs once and for all.

Dr. Gudina's abandonment of UEDF reminds us that there will not be peace, justice and democracy in Ethiopia before Oromia is liberated. The country is not ready to have a mutli-ethnic political party like UEDF. All current "Ethiopian" parties employ deceitful ways to add an "Oromo image" or Oromo toys. The TPLF Tigrayans employed the OPDO stooges to make themselves appear "Ethiopian" while the CUD Amharas employed the half-Oromo Birtukan Midekssa to appear "Ethiopian." None of these will work in the long-term and the current fake "federalism" system of TPLF can not sustain itself because of Tigrayan domination and involvement in Oromo Affairs.

Eventually, the country will have 2 political parties, just like the Democratic Party and Republic Party in America. In Oromia, there will be 2 parties too and these will be the Federalists Democrats like OFC and the Centralist Democrats like UDJ. The TPLF should join the UDJ because it shares the same anti-federalism policy of illegally involving Tigrayans in Oromo affairs. Both TPLF and UDJ should stop hiding under "Ethiopian" names and their deceitful use of Oromo puppets. The TPLF-UDJ marriage will serve minority settlers living inside Oromia but the OFC will help the majority and be the guardian of Oromia as well as the future of a much needed federalism system both in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The views expressed in this blog do not represent the views of Jimma Times or its staff. The views are solely the blogger's. To become a blogger for Jimma Times, contact us for full details

Post A Comment

Comments

14 comments for this article

<< < 1 | 2 > >>

Reverse Comment Order

Added: January 27, 2009. 03:01 PM GMT

Oromo people support new OFC in Ethiopia

This is an immature and shallow analysis for many reasons. First, I found this writer very confused and incapable of distinguishing the ruling party and the remaining non-Oromo people who are mainly oppressed by the current regime just like the majority Oromo people. In this case, therefore, the unification of the two Oromo parties is good news not only for Oromo but also for non-Oromo’s. Thus, I don’t see any logic to say that “the recent unity of all Oromo opposition forces under one umbrella is a nightmare for the Habashaa politicians".

Second, according to the writer "the country is not ready to have a mutli-ethnic political party like UEDF". This remark especially exposed this writer how ignorant he is in Ethiopian politics.

Anyway, it is obvious that the majorities Ethiopian Oromos are mature enough and they know what is good and bad for their destiny. Hence, they don’t share such kind of narrow and poisonous divide and rule at this critical time. Furthermore, though it is a noble idea for the two Oromo parties to be unified, unification of two parties can not be an end by itself. This implies that unless those genuine Oromo parties are working hand in hand with other genuine opposition parties in Ethiopia, they can’t move anywhere let alone inducing a radical change in the Ethiopian political anatomy. Generally, it is safe to say that the above writer has put not his clear vision; instead he put his illusion and becomes a laughing stock.

Zeinu

Alert a moderator

Added: January 27, 2009. 05:10 AM GMT

Federalist Oromos, you are doing fine job!!

This is a very good job done by federalist Oromos. Just for your information there are three groups of Oromo polity now a days:

- Ethiopianists like Prof Fikre Tolosa, Prof Al Mariam, Ato Shekspear Fayyisa, Ato Endargachew Tsige, Commander Asefa Seifu, W/t Birtukan Midhagsa...etc. This group believes that Oromo is part and parcel of Ethiopia with >3000 years of history.

- Federalists like Ob Bulcha Damaksa, Dr. Merera Gudina, Dr. Negaso Gidada, Ato Daud Ibsa, Ob Leenco Lata.....etc. They belive in Oromo's national identity separated from Abyssinians, but they think that all nations can live by forging a common federal home called Ethiopia or Horn of Africa.

- Oromianists like Ob Galasa Dilbo, Ob Jaara Abagada, Ob Ibsa Gutama, Ob Abiyu Galata, Ob Dhugasa Bakako.....etc. This group believes in Oromia as a separated sovereign state and looks at Abyssinia/Ethiopia only as a neibhour country occupying Oromia since the end of 19th century just as it did to Somalia in the last 2 years.

Interesting is to read the articles and histories all three groups write just to instrumentalize them to serve the END they persue respectively. So is the above article written to serve the END called Ethnonational Federation!!

Ogina

Alert a moderator

Added: January 24, 2009. 01:36 AM GMT

it is better than nothing

this is not a bad idea though we know elections are farce under abyssinians
atleast it helps to have political presense inside oromia since OLF has done nothing except pray in vain for SBO to penetrate oromo ears as china jams our signals

OromiaVoice

Alert a moderator

Added: January 23, 2009. 09:04 PM GMT

Gadaa people started to be smart, to think smart and to act smart in order to be the "smart power of the Horn" as Ms Clinton described the new America!. In order to promote Oromo liberation from Abesha domination system, Oromos should still learn to think globally and act locally. Thinking globally in our case meanse look at the BIG picture of Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromo, whereas act locally meanse cooperate and coordinate each individual and institutional move of ours to serve the big picture.

Now the formation of OFC (Oromo Federalist Congress) is the big step towards the right direction. I personally blieve that there are genuine Oromos in OPDO striving to keep the hitherto gains of our Qabsoo. Let us encourage them and differentiate them from non-Oromo forces in OPDO, who mainly fight against our Qabsoo. The consolidation of the Oromo opposition under OFC is very timely and mandatory.

Now we need a similar step to be taken by Liberation Fronts (the 3 OLFs, COPLF, FIDO, FIO and UOPLF) to forge similar unity under the beloved and original name OLF. It is non sense to see so many liberation fronts fragmented even though they all do have the same KAAYYO aka Bilisummaa Saba Oromo and Walabummaa Biyya Oromo. I hope these rebel liberation groups learn from OFC and come together to forge only one strong OLF.

Then having genuine Oromos in OPDO (let's call them ODM = Oromo Democratic Movement) as a keeper of the status quo, having OFC as a strong opposition to promote our Qabsoo per ballot and forging only one strong OLF which struggles for our Bilisuimmaa and Walabummaa per bullet is the best we can achieve in our liberation journey. At the end, the cooperation and coordination of the struggle of ODM, OFC and OLF is the best instrument we can have against the Abesha Domination Forces. Thank you OFC for being an example of Tokkummaa for Bilisummaa!!

Anonymous

Alert a moderator

Added: January 23, 2009. 09:01 PM GMT

Thank you Ob Bulcha and Dr. Merera for such far sighted step. The only instrument we need to be liberated is TOKKUMMAA! As we all know our enemy is not only Weyane, but also its supporters (some Amharas who do fear QBO, USA-government, EU-poleticians and AU-dictators who do want to see Ethiopia intact).

Specially USA, EU and AU support Abeshas for they want to have Ethiopia as bull against Islam world. Weyanes could successfully convince them that Oromos are in majority Moslem, who may act against their interest.

Now to tacle all these obstacles, both TOKKUMMAA Oromo and being dedicated to FEDERALISM (to show the West that Oromos are not necessarily against their interest) are important. OFC has got this agenda rightly managed. I know OLF is not as "separatist" as the Weyane tries to sell to the West, but unfortunately it is devided in to many factions (COPLF, Jijirama, Qaacaa, Shane, FIDO, FIO and UOPLF) to lead us to success.

The step taken by OFC is specially very symbolic for us to forge Tokummaa for Bilisummaa, be it with in Ethiopian Union or with out Ethiopian Union. I hope Weyane will not hinder this coalition using its election board. Anyways the attempt is nice and examplary!!!

Ogina

Alert a moderator

Added: January 18, 2009. 04:53 AM GMT

sources please?

this is great news and positive development but i have not heard about OFC from any other news media outlets. is it really true?? any sources???

patriot

Alert a moderator

Added: January 18, 2009. 02:37 AM GMT

daer bloger,

federalism will not work in etiopia because it was created due to colonialism and slavery of oromo people by abyssinians who killed thousands of oromos

OFC is pro-Etiopia which is against the basic ideals of Oromummaa and the eventual liberation of our people to create Independent Oromia

Ebsa

Alert a moderator

Added: January 18, 2009. 12:17 AM GMT

Shameless!

This article is written by a shameless individual. CUD was not only Amharas party. How can Woyanne and UJD be one party. Instead, OFC and Woyanne can be one party because both have race agenda. This article preaches something that can not be practically put. It is narrow persons attitude. He should know that the world has changed alot. Ethiopians too!

Degaga

Alert a moderator