February 10, 2015 | By Kassim Sheimo
The last 24 years of Oromo struggle against TPLF regime has been a
failure by many aspect due to lack of unity, strong viable leadership,
lack of clear vision, proliferation of influence of locality, religion,
and regionalism inside Oromo political organizations. The end product of
these processes is a devastating failure of Oromo political and social
fabric inside and outside of the country. As majority of us recall from
1991 to present day, Oromo people have not yet lost hope on its once was
a vibrant organization with tenth of thousands of regular fighters as
well as millions of volunteers and all most 90% support from Oromo
public. The difference created before the fall of Dergu regime and
following the TPLF dominated transitional government has resulted into
devastating consequences for our cause. There are so many conspiracy
theories that are still hidden from Oromo public as to why, when, who,
and in what circumstances the OLF is divided into different factions.
Why the Organization once enjoyed massive human and material resources
behind it suffered such humiliating failure is a mystery.
The Oromo public rallied behind OLF with high level of energy,
devotion, enthusiasm, commitments, and loyalty. Many foreign obverses
and even some among us were surprised when the OLF able to attract huge
public turned out by hundreds of thousands and able to garner millions
of dollars in just few public engagement. It was unimaginable that any
able Oromo would be left behind to a call by the organization. Many who
live around the world volunteered to go back and fight the enemy under
its banner of free Oromia. Enormous donations in terms of money and
moral supports were pouring more than what the leaders were be able
handle. It is therefore heartbreaking to see such organization suffered
splits into many factions, consequently suffered calamitous failure,
lost the support, and confidence of the Oromo public at home and in
diaspora that it once used enjoy. Tenth of millions of dollars collected
from the public are unaccounted for. There were minimal or no
oversight. Those public enthusiasms and hopes were gradually vanished.
It is very sad to see such diverse homogeneous 2nd largest ethnic
population in Africa divided into a loopy localism, religion, and
region. It is disgraceful that the leaders of these factions disgruntled
the Oromo public. Today we have come to the point where these factions
cannot attract more than 10 to 15 people at any location where Oromos
are more dominant. The dynamics of political dialog and engagement have
been intentionally ignored because these leaders can’t handle the
outpouring public anger. They chose to go around, create locally based
little pocket of sympathizers to get some pictures and video of sort of
meeting and release to tell us that they still out there and alive. They
just can’t talk to the public because they are afraid that they would
be challenged, embarrassed, and humiliated by the public.
The latest attempt of TPLF government to engage us through its puppet
OPDO leaders is the tantamount to our division, weakness, and failure.
Otherwise, it would be unimaginable that Ato Abba Duula who is the right
hand of cruel TPLF gangsters would appear here among us, especially in
diaspora trying to talk to us about investment and development when our
people are actually marginalized politically, economically, and socially
in the country; when millions of Oromo people are evicted/ faced
eviction from their ancestral land; when Oromo young generation are
hunted and mercilessly killed for just raising the fundamental human
rights. The irony is, some of our faction leaders suppose to be at
forefront in protesting Ato Abba Duula’s visit has actually found to be
feasting and entertaining with the agent of TPLF. Especially those that
are packing their luggage for power sharing journey to Finfinne were
more visible with Abba Duula. They are at desperate position to appease
the TPLF bosses so they would be welcomed back to cronyism.
The evolving big question is for how long these faction leaders
highjack the Oromo cause and stall our destiny to free land? It is safe
for me to say that the Oromo struggle has its fare share of devastating
political failure because of poor political, organizational, structural,
and military judgments; lack of common sense, lack of high Oromo value,
inefficiency, lack of accountability, and responsibility. Simply we
cannot afford to stand by and allow such impunity to go unchallenged
forever. It is our unalienable right to be vocal, opponent, and critic
of those who failed us; and in the face of those who are still
unflinching to lead us into more disasters after disasters. We all need
to come out and discus with no fear of repercussion, no limit what so
ever. We need to vent ourselves in constructive and civilized way.
Question everything! We need to follow our rational judgment to engage
ourselves with discussion, debate, and deliberation by following our
egalitarian Gadaa system that anchors our national heritage. We need to
be able to create alternate source of power.
Many genuine Oromo children worked hard all their lives to
resuscitate and bring this organization back to its fullest factional
capacity were vexed with lack of progress and went into hibernation.
Many that have tried were anguished by lack of seriousness, lack of
genuine interest from faction leaders, many faces of unity that emerged
on different occasions that shade some light on the unity of purpose
were short-lived and faded away quickly. They left us with bad memories
of conspiracy theories. Huge road blocks are erected each step of the
way causing one step forward and two steps backward. The liberation
movement is almost at standstill or non-existence if we not cheating
ourselves. It is smart if we accept our collective failures and sit
together and find solution before it is too late. I am not trying to
discredit those who genuinely working hard day and night for Oromo
cause. At the same time we need to acknowledge, give gratitude, and
commemorate the effort of those (General Taddesse Birru, General Waaqo
Guutu, Jarra Abba Gadaa, Elemo Qilxuu, Jamal Roobalee, Nadhii Gammada,
Gishuu Jarra, etc.) who left us outstanding legacy of knowledge, wisdom,
perseverance, hard work, and sacrifices.
Each and every one of us has innate potential to achieve our goal of
free country. We need to acknowledge our individual and collective
potentials. Recognizing the power that we all possess will help us to
gain momentum in our dream of achieving Bilisumma. Because potential is
unexposed ability to reach latent power. Getting where we want to be
doesn’t require solving transcendental or sophisticated mathematical
equation. It rather requires joining each other by expanding our
concept, horizon, setting short and long terms goals in the wide ocean
full of opportunities. It is not hard to deduce the importance of
effective leadership in harvesting those opportunities. Through
visionary, determined, and consistent leadership that sends clear
message to its friends and foes and armed with discipline, control, and
ascendancy will for sure leads not only to victory but also stability
and sustainability of peace after victory. Leadership is not a title; it
is not forever; it is not a boss; it is rather he who is selfless that
leads and follow the interest of his people; it is he who can put
positive influence on his followers; it is he who never hesitates to
take calculated risks because opportunity only comes through experiment
in which risks are unavoidable. It is he who never hesitates to tell the
truth because honesty is the best policy. “No legacy is so rich as
Honesty” William Shakespeare.
We are equally human and affirm that there is no reason why we cannot
solve our differences in Oromo cultural way of “Jaarsumma or
manguddumma” and reconcile our differences. Among us, I believe there
are hundred thousands of talented Oromo individuals, intellectuals,
community leaders, religious leaders, elders, and young Qubee
generations that can bring us together. The current TPLF political
platform created dangerous clout in the horn of Africa. Conspicuously,
albeit our people are increasingly becoming trapped in destitute cycle
of poverty, lack of progress, lack of unity, polarized Oromo politics,
and increasing religious fundamentalism around the horn of Africa have
created potential of vulnerability. This suppressive regime is losing
its control in some area of the country due to increasing resisting
against injustices in every corner of the country. This development has
to be followed by united, strong, and viable, political Organization
that would save our people from impending political, military, and
social crises. . We need to be able to remove the political uncertainty
hovering over our country. Therefore; it is imperative to urgently
Create Oromo National Forum for Dialog and deliberation that will lead
us to true Reconciliation.
Thank you (Galatooma)
Kassim Sheimo
February 10, 2015
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