Opinion | Coqorsa Liban

Oromia is the forgotten nation, and Oromo are the forgotten people, and Oromo politicians are forgetting their cause and their people by turning to the politics of self consumption in which (ignorant) Oromo politicians are portraying each other as bitter arch foe and using their energy, time, and scant resource to score a victory against each other and giving uncompromised victory for the enemy of Oromo to strengthen its grip on power by exploiting differences within the Oromo camp and exploiting the desperateness of Oromo people at the pace and direction of its struggle. This chapter of fragmentation, disintegration, dismemberment, and disorientation, and vicious cycle of confusion prevalent in the Oromo politics is not only unabated but it is contributing to the exasperation of the otherwise trifling issues that could be tackled through democratic culture of dialogue and inclusiveness to the extent of developing grave rift and division within the Oromo politics.

Fighting over the Trademark is not an end by itself

Despite its failure to achieve tangible military victories and rampant division within the Organization predominantly because of its moribund leadership style of splendid isolation and high risk aversion, OLF enjoys unparalleled popularity in the modern political history of Oromia; popularity equated with ‘messianic belief’; and popularity that has deeply entrenched in the hearts and minds of Oromo; and popularity of making OLF the sine qua non of Oromo struggle and defining success and otherwise of Oromo destiny with make or break  of OLF.  OLF in real life and in action, which is dilapidated and caricatured, enjoys high market capitalization, i.e., the public attribute high worthiness to the organization as opposed to other political movements formed for crusading for the cause of Oromo people. OLF garnered high market capitalization not because of its demonstrative skill of delivering its promises but because of its ability to galvanize huge affirmative public opinion (may be because of its noble cause or its indoctrination or lack of any democratic alternative for Oromos in the country).

The recent trend we are observing is how different factions of OLF are fighting to milk the capital market already forged without creating an iota of progress towards making the organization deliver its promises.  The brand name OLF is deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of Oromo so much so that any group which aspires for stake in the Oromo politics indulges in the fight for the use of trade mark.  Fighting over the trade mark and without making any tangible contribution for the progress of the cause is not only futile but it is tantamount with gambling over the politics of desperate mass by slowing the pace of its struggle and prolonging brutality of its enemies.  Nor vilifying one group or ethnic group for abysmal failure of the organization and trying to buy legitimation out of it without making any sort of real contribution could move the organization an inch forward. 

Oromos are diverse people; we do not have monolithic life, we are followers of different creed, we came from different ecologies and we have different accents, if the certain group calls Oromos politics to be more accommodative and representational that is sound point for negotiation and compromise. If certain group makes a move for airing its opinion and for representation or what is sometimes referred as resilience to monopoly, this is legitimate concern a group can come up with for possible dialogue and amicable solution thereof.  

There are so many issues that call for the unity of Oromos, obviously the cruelty and barbarity of our enemy and the suffering and suffocation they are languishing from is prime reason for unity. For Oromos to emerge as viable and strong political force in the Empire of Ethiopia and to be heard in Horn of Africa, Oromo unity must come first. Otherwise, fighting over a trade mark without any potential investment in it undermines the Organization and ultimately kills the cause of Oromo people. 

Whatever sort of dialogue is made should be accommodative and inclusive of all political groups fighting for the rights of Oromo people. Marginalization of a group by another group, ganging up against a certain faction, mobilizing certain tribe against another tribe and thereby shifting the attention and target of Oromos from the cause of its real woes  hardly benefit Oromo public. It is call of time, for Oromo political groups to unite and work in tandem to find panacea for our common problems.  No need of mobilizing resources against one another, no need of fighting over nothing, and no need for disorientation, it is time to reorganize and refocus and real work get done.

Let us restrain ourselves until the Dust of Division Settles

Oromo websites are addressing the issues of political split within the camp of OLF in different ways. Some are addressing the issue in somber way; some are trying to give more chances for their followers to have their say; some are acting extremely bipartisan by over blowing fabricated and unconfirmed information disguised in the name of news in the same way as the group who opposed to the Oromo cause did.  We are addressing the issue in its crude form since naming and labeling is not good and since it goes without saying, i.e., it is also self explanatory that to which websites we tacitly referring when we make the above assertions.

In current global village, the role of internet is very much important in disseminating information and for connecting Oromos around common agendas. Ultimately, the aim of Oromo sites is promoting the rights of Oromo people who denied voice because of the repressive system in place there.  In reality, the position of a few Oromo sites, ostensibly established with the intention of promoting the causes of the Oromo, are in actual terms contributing for further deterioration of Oromo causes and Oromo politics by over blowing the unconfirmed, one sided partisan “propaganda” designed by low conscience politicians who are trying to score a victory against each other rather than working towards tackling obstacles to Oromo peoples dream for self determination. In the era of cyber space, Oromo websites has crucial role in expressing, disseminating, seeking, receiving and imparting information and ideas pertinent to Oromo people. In our time, freedom of speech requires a freedom to speak without censor and limitation. It also requires freedom to seek, receive and impart information. However, the ideas we express, the information we disseminate should not further polarize our people and hinder the process of consensus building towards the common end. 

Those of us who express our ideas and opinions on the websites should not forget to exercise self restraint in digging into divisive and malicious issues that disturbs culture of tolerance. We should also restrain from making the argument very much personal and tribal since Oromo issues are neither tribal nor personal in its nature and end. We need to give up abuse language and argumentum ad hominem.  We need to focus on issues of solving our problems. We should not over blow factional propaganda, we should not merely base our information on rumors as Oromo issue is different from celebrity driven gossip culture, and we should no polarize the Oromos by news from unconfirmed sources.  We have to distinguish the kind of information that Oromo public need, they need unity and solidarity as they are sicken tired of divisive politics and tearing down each other in front of our foes. 

Now there is widespread dust of division, defamation, and fomentation of fear going around in Oromo politics, if this dust settles, the more Oromo politicians will  see the need for real unity until that  we beg the Oromo cyber world for fairness, balance, self restraint and moderation in their reporting.   Unity and victory and for Oromo!

Nagaa Nu Guuti!
Tokkummaa

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