To All Opposition parties

Ladies and Gentlemen in all opposition camps,

You all seem concerned about the geopolitics of our country. You all repeatedly talk about the recurrent political problems of our country. You always say you are better than the ruling party. You always denounce the government for whatever it does in our country. You denounced and denied the growth our country is recording. You underestimated the construction of Renaissance Dam and tried to sabotage selling bonds. You were busy finding faults for the last 20 years and you still are. But these all never helped you win the heart of your supporters and hence quench your power greed.

Therefore,

                     If you have a burning desire to solve our geopolitical problems,

                     If you are passionate enough to serve the public selflessly,

                     If you really feel how the public feels (bleed when the public bleeds, suffer when the public suffers, and get wounded when the public is wounded …), then I suggest you the following simple but crucial things.

First identify your own problems and solve them. Break free of your own slavery… win your own ego. Fight your weaknesses teeth and nail … triumph the victory of self-mastery. If you win the battle with the self, if you conquer your personal egos, if you stop moving with the herd then you nothing can stop you… even EPRDF!

Second stop fighting one another. Get off the zero sum game. Avoid the crab mentality thing… you are no more crabs be human. Guard off yourself from the cunning attacks of the ruling party. The only one who can pull you out of the swamp area is you! Not foreign embassies. External superpowers may get you to power provided that you fulfill some conditions, but that means you don’t have real power… you will be puppets. Believe that there is always a better way of doing things… even for Ethiopian opposition parties!

Third believe in the mighty power of the public and seek its approval. The only reason you don’t win EPRDF is not because of its restrictive and oppressive nature as you always tell us. It is because you doubt the unbearable power of the public. Seek and win public approval. Show the public that you are better than EPRDF. Convince the public that your services outweigh that of the ruling party. Support your evidences measurably (quantitatively and qualitatively).

Have an unwavering faith that the public were, still is and will continue as the only source of power. Then, the public will carry you and take you where you want. If any obstacle tries to block its way, it will be crushed to piece and be destroyed irrecoverably. Above all, stop insulting the supporters of the ruling party by saying “cadres!” , brainwashed supporters, blind supporters … they may be right now, but there is no way they can support you if you convince them. You know that there is neither permanent enemy nor permanent ally in politics. You can do this peacefully! Take lessons from Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King.

Finally don’t be over reactive rather be proactive. Don’t parrot whatever the government says…have your own vision, plan ahead and tell to the public your agendas frankly. Otherwise, reacting to whatever the ruling party will take you nowhere. Being charming when the government is charming, being stubborn when it becomes stubborn, pessimist when it gets tough, and optimist when it loosens up won’t take you to the summit you envision. The government did, is still doing and keeps on doing whatever it takes to stay in power. Don’t fool yourself that it will rear you to grow up like its baby…No! It will remain as your Lucifer step father (mother) that blocks your growth and keep you look dwarf.

From your concerned observer!