New Oromo Republican Party as Modern Version of the OLF to Foster Ethiopia With Geo-federation?

It seems that the era of liberation fronts is over. The EPLF already changed its name and surely it will die with Isayas Afeworki the expected natural death. The TPLF is lying on its death bed and lost legal position in Ethiopia. The ruling Tigrai nationalists led by Getachew Reda will most probably come up with new name for their organisation of the new generation. The ONLF is practically dead and Somalis are being oriented otherwise. The OLF also looks like to be at its final stage of development. Oromo nationalists with bilisumma/freedom mindset are now all over Oromia being active in OLA, OFC and even OPP. I think, they now have to be organized in only two major Oromo parties: the ruling OPP and the opposition – ORP (Oromo Republican Party). Oromo nationalists in OLA, OFC and the OLF need to come together and foster one strong party called ORP in order to challenge the OPP in the future peaceful struggle. The ongoing negotiation between OLA and OPP should bring the armed conflict to an end. The ORP can then over take power in Finfinne palace in the next appearing eventuality to promote as well as stabilize Oromo’s AAA (Aadaa, Afaan & Aangoo). The ORP surely shall consolidate the Aango (power), promote Afaan Oromo to primary working language of the federation replacing Amarigna and modernize the Aadaa (culture) to make it fit for the 21st century of innovation era.

I once heard Ob. Leenco’s interview by Bethy, where he suggested formation of a new Oromo party replacing the OLF. According to him, the OLF has finished its mission and the Oromo need new party of new generation, which is fit to face the new challenge with new approach. It is not bad idea. If really the OLF is too old to adapt itself to fix the current Oromo problem, then modern organization with modern program and winning Oromo’s heart as the OLF did up to now is really mandatory. I think, we need not only new Oromo party, but new Ethiopian party led by genuine Oromo Republicans to compete against the ruling Prosperity party. It seems that Oromo Prosperitans are consolidating their power by using the inclusive Ethiopian prosperity party. The OLF and OFC should think to foster such inclusive Ethiopian party to compete against the Prosperitans. For this purpose, they need partners from all regions to form a big Ethiopian Democratic party against the existing big Ethiopian Prosperity party. Then, we will have only two big parties to compete for power as it is in the USA. The only thing Oromo elites should check is that both Absehe elites (Amhara assimilationists and Tegaru hegemonists) never get a comeback chance. Ethiopia is again at cross road. There are five scenario to be seen as possible fates of this instabile country:

– unitary amharanized Ethiopia as wished by Ezema of Dr. Berihanu and the likes.

– Amharigna dominated dictatorial federation as entertained by EPP of Dr. Abiy.

– independent republic of nations as initially strived by the OLF of Ob. Galaasa.

– Oromiffaa led democratic federation as planned by Ob. Leencoo.

– united and voluntarily Oromonized Ethiopia as a result of natural influence from nation of demographic majority in a democratic process as previously envisioned by Dr. Haile Fida of Meison.

From these five senario, the first is obsolete and already dead; the second is temporary and will die soon. Then, the Oromo and other nations will have a possibility to choose democratically from the last three options; democratic independence of of Ob. Galaasa Dilbo, democratic federalism of Dr. Leenco Lataa and democratic integration of Dr. Halle Fida.

No question that all Oromo nationals are struggling for freedom from the hitherto system of domination. The name OLF stands for this freedom/bilisumma. This name is no more specific for one organization, it is already a mind set of all Oromo nationalists who flight for freedom. Thanks to all who sacrifised their life parially or totally to this liberation struggle, we are almost free from Abyssinian system of domination, but still oppressed by the Neo-naftagna of Abiy Ahmed. Our mind set – OLF – is now promoting three different types of post-freedom sovereignty:

1. Ethiopian Integration, by democratic Oromos being active in parties like ECS of Dr. Berihanu und EPP of Dr. Abiy. This form of the OLF is Ethiopianist.

2. Federal Union of nations and nationalities being organized as ODF of Ob. Leenco and OFC of Dr. Marara. These are true Federalists.

3. Oromian Independence being firm in the form of explicit OLF of Ob. Daud. Such body of our mindset is purely Oromianist.

The difference among us is on the issue: what type of Oromian state we want to forge after freedom. There are three approachs in the Oromo community:

– the pro-federation Oromo like Ob Leencoo Lataa prefer the British model, where Afaan Oromo being federal language in a long run equates Oromoland with England and Finfinne with London, so that the future federal union will be one version of de facto Oropia (Oromumma led Ethiopia).

– the pro-unity Oromo like Ob Andargachew Tsige entertain the French style. As long as this group accepts freedom from the system, Afaan Oromo as federal language and Gadaa democracy as rule of the game in the future free union, surely it is also promoting another version of de facto Oropia in which Afaan Oromo will overtake Amharinya in due time.

– pro-independence Oromo like Ob Galaasa Dilbo opt for the German type nation state of the Oromo, which is equivalent to the German’s. In such free Oromia, there will only be Harari as minor nationality, just as the Sorben is the only minor nationality in Germany. Other nations living in such exclusive Oromia are national minorites, whose origin is out of the nation state.

Fact on the ground is that as long as the future of the nation is moving in a direction of freedom, Afaan Oromo will be used as federal language and there shall be democracy, justice, rule of law and economical development, the END will either be an independent Gadaa Oromia of German type or the two versions of Oropia (the French style integrated Oropia and the British model federal Union Oromia). That is why the Oromo can and should cooperate with all forces to achieve our freedom from the existing system of domination, be it which ever of the three outcomes will be realized in the future! The three post-freedom sovereignty are not disadvantageous for the Oromo as long as AAA (Aadaa/culture, Afaan/language & Aangoo/power) of the Oromo are not compromised! Thus, let’s watch Ezema of Dr. Berihanu, fight against EPP of Dr. Abiy and be open for the democratic goals (Kayyoo) of Ob. Galaasa Dilbo, Dr. Haile Fida and Ob. Leencoo Lata. Last but not least, fostering a smart, modern and strong Oromo party to fix the current challenge and to give future Leadership as suggested by Ob. Leenco is not bad, as long as that party is pro-Oromumma unlike the pro-Amharanet EPP of Dr. Abiy. It doesn’t matter if the Oromumma led Ethiopia, i.e de facto Oropia will be Ethio-federation (Geo-federation) or Ethno-federation. The Oromo should be in a leadership position in both future inclusive Repulican Party suggested by Dr. Leenco and Prosperity party already formed by Dr. Abiy. May Waaqa help the Oromo and Oromia!

Galatooma