Section II
Ref No # 11.2
February 25, 2013
Reinvigorating the Spirit of Constitutionalism: We say ‘NO’ To Political Messiah from the Diaspora
February 25, 2013
Reinvigorating the Spirit of Constitutionalism: We say ‘NO’ To Political Messiah from the Diaspora
By Gezahegn
Anbelu
There was this conference I attended
very recently .One of the participants were discussing the potentialities of
the Ethiopian Diasporas that could be contributed to the economy .He talked of
the financial capacity, their intellectual prowess and technical knowledge they
could bring to the country if they were given the well-deserved attention.
I presume the government has also clearly understood the power and the economic tide the Diasporas community could generate and is trying to serf as cautiously as possible.
However the extreme political view the Diasporas and the government hold never seems to give a way and impasse, political deadlock and suspicion have hereto characterized the intricate relationship between the two
The angle of attack that mostly comes against the Diasporas political elite with alleged sole ownership of the opposition political blog is of their snobby and bigotry view of ‘I know better than you’ attitude. This impression they as a group have is expressed in many ways. They have a flagrant self-appointed view that they are the solution to the economic predicament of Ethiopia. Their interpretation of history, politics and culture of any content is the sole interpretation that can’t be dared questioned or disagreed on. The tide they cause due to their financial ability is hard to surmount .It is of their propaganda and misinformation which characterized their political strategy which is purely based on public relations stunt focusing purely on crises and confusion in Ethiopia. Any potential and apparent political instability is a best opportunity to be exploited and any positive is subjected to mockery.
The contribution the Diaspora
community is making to their country is quite significant. The remittance they
annually send exceeds the Ethiopia’s export earnings. The technical support
they make available to their nation is also worthy of acknowledgement. This is
the case for majority of members of the Diaspora. However, some in the group
mislead the majority by engaging in misinforming and disorienting. These group
plays with the genuine sentiment of a lot of Ethiopian Diasporas Community who
have strong sentiment toward their country.
Many Diaspora have genuine desire to
see their country strides in democracy and development; they also want to see a
unified and strong Ethiopia. There is nothing wrong in having such prospect to
once country. However, when it comes to realizing these objectives, the path
they are urged to take by these extremist elements is disturbing.
In Ethiopia, the rule of the game is
set by the legal and cultural frameworks that are devised to regulate every
political engagement.
The rule of the game dictates that
people who aspire to bring social and political change to do it according to
the rules that is set by the constitutions as it is the embodiment of
collective political will of the nation. This is of commonsense, not the kind
of enlightenment one gets from eating the forbidden fruit.
Often we hear this disturbing news
from the Diaspora that some bunch of defectors who had been hooked to power
structure till their belly is filled with their greed, has organized a council
and start talking about taking power. This trend is disturbing and
unconstitutional. The act would elucidate the extent power mongers would take
to realize their ultimate and the only goal to overtake power. When popular
vote fail to realize their dream to seize power, they will not sit down but
will leave no stone unturned to make sure their unlawful usurp to power. The
only thing they are eying is the throne!
Any apparent political uncertainty
is an opportunity to beat the drum and create havoc, clamor just incase the
wind would drop them some luck to smooth takeover of power.
Some genuine folks in the Diasporas may not be conscious of such manipulation to suck their hard earned dollar for their absurd political manipulation.
Let me ask, what makes anybody from USA or Europe the Messiah of Ethiopian politics? Who is the prophet that anoints?
Some genuine folks in the Diasporas may not be conscious of such manipulation to suck their hard earned dollar for their absurd political manipulation.
Let me ask, what makes anybody from USA or Europe the Messiah of Ethiopian politics? Who is the prophet that anoints?
These people are not interested
about the political process within the nation but arrogantly assume that
because they are in Europe or USA ,that they are all entitled to call a meeting
,assign whosoever present with title and then people would do ‘anything’ to
make sure the coming of their fantasy into reality .
The political change I envision to
evolve in Ethiopia should be indigenous. The elite from some dream-land cannot
tell me what I need or should need. What we need is developing a system where
institutions would be built up with democratic principles, accountability and
public-service taking their rightful place. I want to see people, not some
bunch of ‘enlightened folks’, get empowered and have voice to freely speak
their minds, get benefited from economic growth. I say not to elite-led
politics.
Some argue that the political space
is narrowed and they do not have the space to undertake political activities
which is stipulated in the constitution. They may have a grain of truth in what
they said .But can we confidently say that the opposition parties have not been
in disarray: wobbling ,accusing, betraying one another totally possessed by
short term thinking and lack of vision, creativity, and palatable policies and
strategies. They are monotones, unorganized. They could not move beyond
opposing the ruling party just for the sake opposing. Their very existence can
be justified by very existence of something that they can oppose.
Is the blame game viable?
Is the blame game viable?
We should return to
constitutionalism. The only way to bring political change is to be part of the
mainstream politics and present palatable policy alternatives: not sitting in
Disneyland across the Mediterranean or the Atlantic, eating MacDonald and
fantasize about usurping power.
It is not revolution but Process,
engaging the grass root that has to be the beginning of genuine political
transformation that transcend generations. All actors in the polity must
envision of long term political transformation towards democracy and people’s
empowerment. We do not want political Messiah from Diasporas .We want political
process that places the mass at the centre. People are not pawns that are
easily manipulated and used by power-thirsty individuals who do want to pay a
penny except an easy entry to resource.
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