Engineer Ghirma
February 24, 2007
In
1992 Bill Clinton’s presidential advisor James Carville, crippled President George
H.W. Bush’s bid for re-election; with the use of the four-word phrase: It’s the economy, stupid. The phrase,
which appeared wherever Bill Clinton made campaign appearance, eclipsed President
George H.W. Bush’s victory over Saddam Hussein in Desert Storm. By highlighting the prevailing recession in the US
economy that resulted in massive job losses while Bush ‘41’ was in office, the
four-word phrase “it’s the economy, stupid”
was credited for electing William Jefferson Clinton as the 42nd
President of the United States of America.
In
the 2005 elections, rural Ethiopia, where over 80% of Ethiopia’s population resides,
overwhelmingly voted for EPRDF and the other parties which historically aligned
with it. Rural Ethiopia decidedly rejected leftovers
from the Derg era, under the leadership of ex-Derg Agriculture Minister
Engineer Hailu Shawel. Rural Ethiopians remembered
their enemies; those who relegated
them to death from starvation and disease; and rejected CUDP en-masse in 2005. That
the Derg and their clones were even given
the opportunity to run as opposition in
the 2005 elections was a travesty, to say
the least, in my opinion.
Consistent with the saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”, then it
goes without saying, that If the enemies
of Mengistu Haile Mariam were friends of
the Ethiopian people, then his
friends, such as his Ministers,
were enemies of the Ethiopian people, obviously.
EPRDF
earned the votes of Rural Ethiopians, because the party had made tangible
difference in their lives by raising their standard of living. Being called a farmer is not a bad word anymore; because it is no longer associated with
starvation whenever a drought hits. Now there is talk of two or three crops per
year through the implementation of irrigation and other innovations. More
varieties of agricultural products are being introduced to farming communities.
New cash crops for export, which would bring higher profits per hectare for the
farmers and foreign currency to the treasury, are being introduced continuously.
Farmers are fast becoming the new middle
class in Ethiopia. Furthermore, EPRDF has food security policy in place; thus farmers will never have to face
starvation and become victims of Global Warming, ever again.
PM
Meles was the first to admit that EPRDF lost votes in urban centers because it
did not do enough for the population. The predominant issue in urban
communities, especially in Addis Abeba, is unemployment and affordable housing,
to name just two. It is not that the government did not do much; but that it did not do enough, in spite of best
efforts by well-liked and respected Mayor Arkebe Oqubay.
Addis Abeba residents
elected Dr. Berhanu Nega as Mayor in 2005. However, he wouldn’t
serve the people who elected him because
he had other ideas. In my opinion, any politician who abandons his supporters is a loser; plain and simple.
Regardless, Addis Abeba has seen tremendous progress; and the
evidence is there for everyone to see. The housing boom in Addis Abeba is
overwhelming; with more in the pipeline both in the public and private sectors.
To my Ethiopian compatriots I say: Don’t believe the nay-sayers. Don’t let them
hoodwink you into thinking that Addis Abeba has not made great progress….beyond
expectations. All it takes is just one
visit to the homeland to
disprove enemy propaganda. The Temporary
Addis Abeba Administration is doing commendable work for the people of
Addis Abeba; thank you very much. After all, Rome was not built in one day!
Perhaps the most pressing problem in urban areas is employment or
the lack thereof. With ever increasing urban population, this problem will
always be here. It is work-in-progress.
It requires huge investment. Success in rural
Ethiopia will also alleviate some of the urban challenges that Ethiopia is
facing. Almost everyday it seems like, new investors are being introduced from
China, India, Japan, Europe, you name it;
lining up to do business in Ethiopia; in every sector imaginable including oil
and gas exploration and varieties of manufacturing ventures. Ethiopia has arrived! It is about time! Nothing can
stop Ethiopia from surging forward. What it means for Ethiopians living in
urban areas is jobs, jobs, and more of it. I feel like
jumping for joy! Yes!
History is being made in Ethiopia; and it is there for all to see.
Dams are being built wherever feasible, on several great rivers of Ethiopia. The
Blue Nile River is being harnessed
for the generation of electricity, and for irrigating the vast fertile land of
Ethiopia. In the Sixties there was talk about the potential for Ethiopia becoming the bread basket of Africa. Well, that potential is here and now. Our country will also soon become a net exporter
of Electric Power (http://waltainfo.com/EnNews/2007/Feb/11Feb07/24468.htm).
No more threats and intimidation from Egypt! New Universities are being opened
in many Ethiopian cities (http://www.ucbp-ethiopia.com/e548/index_eng.html).
Health Centers are fast emerging.
Progress is here to stay. Ethiopia will re-establish itself as one
of the most stunningly beautiful countries on the globe. Tourists will be flocking
into Ethiopia to visit its historical heritage, which is second to none. With unadulterated
rugged beauty, Ethiopia is on track to become among the world’s favorite
destinations for tourists. I sincerely believe that Ethiopia, without
prejudice, is the most beautiful country on the face of the earth, bar none!
The upcoming New Millennium Celebrations will be the ideal formal stage
from where Ethiopia shall launch the New
Century. The rest of Africa will join in the celebrations too. Arguably the
oldest civilization in the world, Ethiopia will be a nation to be reckoned with,
in the Twenty-First Century. Ethiopia will move in only one direction; and that
can be nothing but only upward. Every
Ethiopian has a role to play; especially those in the Diaspora, vocal or otherwise. Don’t miss the boat you hear?
It
will be “it’s the economy, stupid”
allover again in 2010.