Aug 24 at 6:17 AM Finfinee should be put under Oromia Region Ayele Z Bojia In order to keep the already induced change momentum growing and expanding, an incessant effort should continue to be exerted without any slowing down. One way of doing that is to be able to state the major problems and sought solutions in clear and concise manner so that each and every one of us understands what we are after and why? And rally behind it. This can be achieved by getting rid of ambiguous, hesitant and loaded assertions here and there and express our objectives in a lucid manner that any ordinary mortal can easily understand. In matters related to the current situation in the country, particularly in Oromia region, it should be noted that; 1) We totally reject the intended Master plan for Addis Ababa on the ground that it does not accommodate the interest of the Oromo people in every respect. It was not prepared with the participation of the Oromo people and it is unconstitutional for the Federal Government to meddle in the internal affairs of the region. 2) It should further be noted that the glaring insensitivity to the interests of the Oromo people exhibited in conjunction with the so-called master plan, by and large, is traceable to the insufficiency of the constitutional arrangement made for Oromia region and Addis Ababa. While the Constitution clearly stipulates Addis Ababa to be a capital city of the Federal government, the same Addis Ababa being the Capital city of Oromia region is not mentioned in any place of the Constitution. It is simply a ‘feel good” deceptive slogan once again laden onto OPDO leaders despite the fact that there is no legal provision to support that. Besides, the special interest of Oromo people that was provided for in the Constitution was made to remain a neglected article of the Constitution. Therefore, our current demand should not be confined to the promulgation of relevant laws that help translate the constitutionally recognized special right of Oromo people over Addis Ababa into practice but should also include our legitimate demand for the amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Government itself in such a way that; 2.1 It clearly states Addis Ababa to be the Capital City of Oromia region as well. 2.2 Put Addis Ababa under Oromia region where it naturally belongs by retaining its status as a chartered city. This measure, apart from being the right thing to do, will also help better address the concerns of the surrounding people and also ensures the smooth and uninterrupted growth for the city itself. 3) There are certain aspects of the problem that may not be resolved satisfactorily with the above mentioned measures only. Particularly, the issue of language and cultural development and development of regional government identity need to be tackled further. The challenge we face in trying to address this aspect of the problem partly emanates from unnecessarily constraining oneself within the confines of the current size of the city usually in complete disregard of the latent potentialities it has got for further growth and expansion. We need to check whether or not some of our problems could better be addressed if we perceive the solution within the longer time frame and broader geographical setting. In this regard, in order to specifically address the above mentioned lingering problems, I personally believe that areas starting from the eastern and southern border between Addis Ababa and Oromia region all the way down to Bishoftu need to be designated as a seat of Oromia regional Government OdaNabi at its center. Such a measure of trying to discharge various tasks of the capital cities over the cluster areas is not new thing in the world. Throughout the world there are plenty of diverse experiences with respect to the question of the seat of governments and likewise diverse solutions depending upon the prevailing objective situations in which each country finds itself. Currently, there exist about fourteen countries where multiple capitals are maintained over which different government organs and tasks are dispersed. In about six countries in the world their respective capital cities are not serving as the seat of their governments showing that multiple models could be put in place depending upon the nature of problem they aim to address. As one can see from the nature of the suggestions, most of it falls within the Federal domain requiring the role of multiple actors representing multiple interests in the process. This in turn may create a loophole for protracted and demanding political and legislative processes filled with multiple hurdles. Therefore, it is important to make a clear demarcation between what is expected to be done at Federal level and at regional level respectively and developing a properly sequenced implementation strategy accordingly. Therefore; 4) As the mentioned area suggested to be designated for the seat of the regional government is found under the jurisdiction of Oromia region, the region needs to take the following measures without waiting for those measures expected to be addressed at a Federal level. The regional government had in the past acted weirdly regarding this issue by being totally subservient to Woyanne’s pressure. Now, it is Oromo people’s turn to tell them what needs to be done and we hope that they would hear us too. 4.1Designate the mentioned area as a prospective site of the seat of the regional government and immediately suspend all intended investment activities in the area until the time it makes a final decision on this issue; 4.2 Establish a distinct regional entity that would be entrusted with the following tasks; 4.2.1 Conduct feasibility study for the purpose in a manner that responsibly and satisfactorily integrates the interest of the indigenous people to be affected by this, 4.2.2 Conduct an assessment on the compatibility of the already there investments with this newly intended purpose and make recommendations on how those investments need to be handled in view of the suggested new measure. There should be no primacy to be given to any investment more than and above the interest of the Oromo people in this regard. 4.2.3This same entity should be able to draft the referendum and walk the draft referendum through various regional government organs in order for them to make it ready for the final decision of the entire Oromo people on this matter. We should all bear in mind that this particular issue is an issue that we proactively initiated some eight years ago and not as such a mere reaction to the measures taken by the government recently. The rush to designate the area for different purposes and projects rather is a brazen act of sabotage committed by the government itself in order to take preemptive measure against our initiative that it might have somehow learnt was in progress. Therefore, costs associated with revoking or blocking the continued implementation of any project proposal including that of the intended IMF funding of 250 million USD for the so called building of ‘industrial park’ or “industrial zone” located in the above mentioned area should unequivocally be regarded as Woyannes’ own making and nobody else’s responsibility. Besides, the country’s policy for industrialization needs to be geared rather towards attaining a balanced regional and sectoral development that is based on proper utilization of area specific resource endowments and not as a cover of implementing the hidden agenda of severing Oromia region into a detached eastern and western part by initiating an alien settlement in between the region under the guise of building so called “industrial park”,”industrial hub” or creating “industrial zone”. Thus OdaNabi, once again should be made to play a role of holding Oromia together as it was exactly intended for during the sixteenth century. In order for all of us to see the evolution of this issue over the course of the preceding few years, I have here under pasted a copy of the message we sent to our beloved elders regarding this issue some eight years ago so that we all understand to what extent others are trying hard to stifle every bit of our interests. Hopefully, some of our elders to whom we have sent our requests may come forward at their own convenient time and venue and share with us their highly valued thoughts on this issue. It is high time for all of us to make some sort of soul searching that will go beyond the niceties of fanfares staged here and there that are primarily meant to distract our attention from noticing the heinous crime that is being committed against our people. July 24, 2014 Dear beloved Oromo elders, We have decided to share with you some of our thoughts on how the issue of regional capital has been mishandled so far and how better should be handled in the future. The main problem associated with this issue is that it has been measured through the prism of Woyane;s interest of “Divide and Rule” and not from the genuine interest of the Oromo people. At the initial stage, in order to build their capital without major resource competition, they gave an assignment to OPDO leaders to brag about Finfinne being the natural seat of Oromia and by so doing they aimed at sparing resources for themselves on one hand and make their stooges appear as a true champion of Oromo interest on the other. After they are done with their own, they again ordered their lackeys to immediately pack and leave for Adama. Not a dint of all those noises made earlier with respect to Finfinne by OPDO leaders were heard during this packing. While the very rationale behind having a capital is to have a cultural and political center and develop regional political identity, choosing particularly Adama for this purpose by itself is self explanatory as it clearly indicates that what are basically wanted by Woyane are rather a center for permanent friction and not a center where political gains could be consolidated and our culture flourishes. Now, after this irresponsible measure is challenged by Oromo people, it seems that the issue has been silently suppressed by pretending to have accepted our claim to Finfinne as a lasting solution. This last scenario is what troubles us most as it invites the usual complacent attitude to set in again. If this is to be taken as a final solution, our opportunity to solidify the current federal arrangement with a concomitant political and cultural center will be missed. On our part, we are strongly convinced that the current situation cannot help us to comprehensively address the issue of regional capital. Instead, we are currently entertaining an alternative solution that combines our legitimate claim to Finfinne on one hand and our need to have our own political and cultural center on the other. Besides, a strong historical significance behind our current proposal makes it even an attractive option. Anyhow, before we go public with our suggestion, we have decided to consult you on this issue so that we will be guided by your wisdom and blessing as well. Our version of the solution is to advocate for OdaNabi ( an area located in the eastern and southern border of Finfinne that stretches from the current border of finfinne and Oromia region all the way down to Bishoftu) to become a future seat of regional government. The main reasons behind our suggestion are:- a) As OdaNabi is only within 20 to 30 kms (12.5 to 19 miles) radius of Finfinne, by the parameter of modern urban development, it is considered part of ever expanding Finfinne. It is not only that. By initiating the seat of our regional government on the fast growing edge of Fifinne, we concretize our constitutionally recognized special right on this city and it will also help us get a better leverage to our claim on the city. b) Though our claim on Fifinne is legitimate and just in general, the history of it being made a capital is always traceable to others. By contrast, OdaNabi was founded by our ancestors as a center during the sixteenth century after further expansion to west and north was made. So, it has a strong historical significance for the purpose. c) As all the infrastructures required for urban development are already there it provides an immense opportunity for its jump start and fast and steady development. d) Again, its proximity with Finfinne or being part of the larger Finfinne, provides an ideal situation for monitoring during construction and less disruptive transition in general. e) Most importantly, this measure provides us with cultural and political center that help us consolidate gains so far achieved. We are truly eager to hear your opinion on this. As for us, we are simply fascinated by it right now. Ayele Zewge Bojia Oromo Movement for Federalism and Ethiopian Unity October 2007
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:44:44 +0000
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