
Commentaries | Jul 06,2019
November 30 , 2019
The public's attention, if not space, has been overwhelmed since late last week by a pronouncement of political dissent by Lemma Megersa, a once ardent ally of Abiy Ahmed (PhD). The coup de cœur of the two did not last long since the ascendance to power of Abiy, after unseating the historical hegemony of the TPLF from the ruling EPRDF, gossip recalled.
A cleavage between the two has been in the making since months after April 2018, gossip recalled. Lemma might have begun viewing the courting of Abiy by the Emirs as obscure, and the spectacular renovation of the Grand Palace as misappropriation of resources, clams gossip. He may believe this should not have been a priority, and it is unnecessarily taking the focus and energy away from the new administration, gossip claims.
The growing differences over substantive issues, such as the dissolution of the ODP and the evolution of the Prosperity Party (PP) out of the debris of the EPRDF, remain evident among their close circles, Worqneh Gebeyehu (PhD), a close mutual friend, being active in mediating between them, gossip recalled.
Lemma may have been a voice of caution from within, claims gossip. Nonetheless, the formidable challenge to Abiy's aspiration to go beyond party business and redefine how politics is undertaken comes from the TPLF. Its leaders have openly defied the making of PP and decided to go their separate ways, effectively becoming a political force governing a historically significant regional state in opposition to the force that is running the show at the federal level and in the rest of the regional states.
Any separation between parties in a union, whatever its form, like a divorce between a couple, leaves behind outstanding issues that require delicate handling. So is the sundering between the forces that have chosen to amalgamate and the TPLF, with a number of options on the table for contemplation by the respective parties.
Abiy had a meeting with leaders of the TPLF the following morning after the EPRDF Central Committee voted on the merger of the EPRDF, against the former's strong objection. Subsequently, the TPLF declined to attend the EPRDF Council meeting that has cemented the decision to merge, and there has been hardly any formal communications between the two since, claims gossip.
Perhaps troubled by such a turn of events, Abiy gave an audience on November 23, 2019, to a little over 50 business people who are natives of the regional state, gossip disclosed. He gave them his perspective on the rundown of development between him and the TPLF`s leadership, in as much as he put the blame on the latter for a breakdown of the relationship, reveals gossip. Abiy reiterated the options he has offered the TPLF political bureau a couple of weeks ago, according to gossip.
TPLFites may reconsider their position not to join the PP; that they may consider having a relationship with PP as an “allied party”; or, they may continue to be a governing party, provided that they could win the next elections in the Tigray Regional State, and a contending force with the seats in the federal parliament of the regional state, disclosed gossip. Abiy took the occasion to reassure these business people that the new political dynamics within the incumbent party should be no worries to them, claims gossip. He had also suggested that Debrtsion Gebremichael (PhD), chairman of the TPLF, needs to be supported, a remark some of them found uncanny, claims gossip.
Not many among the business people had the appetite to speak, bar three of them. Nonetheless, they had agreed to travel to Meqelle and speak with TPLFites and met five of the nine political bureau members, gossip disclosed. Alem Gebrewahid, Asmelash Woldesellasie and Getachew Reda were strong in the diatribe against Abiy, revealed gossip, emphasising the deficit of trust they have with Abiy as an obstacle to moving forward, claims gossip.
The group has since been back to Addis and expected to meet Abiy this week, hoping to impart their impression, says gossip. There is little they brought back in the form of a definitive answer though, according to gossip.
PUBLISHED ON
Nov 30,2019 [ VOL
20 , NO
1022]
Commentaries | Jul 06,2019
Agenda | Dec 19,2018
Agenda | Dec 05,2018
Commentaries | Mar 14,2020
Fortune News | Dec 05,2018
Obituary | Oct 31,2020
Fortune News | May 18,2019
Viewpoints | Dec 29,2018
Sunday with Eden | Mar 13,2021
Verbatim | Mar 19,2022
Photo Gallery | 52059 Views | May 06,2019
Fortune News | 45472 Views | Jul 18,2020
Photo Gallery | 43731 Views | Apr 26,2019
In-Picture | 42058 Views | Dec 14,2019
November 27 , 2021
Against my will, I have witnessed the most terrible defeat of reason and the most sa...
November 13 , 2021
Plans and reality do not always gel. They rarely do in a fast-moving world. Every act...
October 16 , 2021 . By HAWI DADHI
Residing in a country with no capital market, an organised marketplace for trading se...
August 28 , 2021 . By HAWI DADHI
The streets of Addis Abeba are as varied as they are many, although too many of them have yet to be named. From the narrow alleyways of the...
May 21 , 2022
There was a great deal of handshaking and patting each other on the back at the Hyatt...
May 14 , 2022
Diana Yohannes is one of those actively engaging in social media platforms with her T...
May 7 , 2022
The Ethiopian Economic Association (EEA) recently proposed the formation of a macroec...
April 30 , 2022
There is no ambiguity in the UNDP's assessment of Ethiopia’s economic performance a...
May 21 , 2022 . By BERSABEH GEBRE
Efforts to form the country's first-ever capital market took a meaningful step last...
May 21 , 2022 . By TSION HAILEMICHAEL
Trade regulators have warned exporters to immediately ship oilseeds and cash crops...
Federal officials are moving forward with a belated initiative to form a regulatory...
May 21 , 2022 . By TSION HAILEMICHAEL
A consortium of agrochemical importers has pleaded with central bank authorities for...
Put your comments here