Did Fayyis Help Jawar Change His Slogan from “Ethiopia Out of Oromia” to “Ethiopia Shall Be Oropia”?
By Fayyis Oromia*
I remember how I once confronted Jawar Mohammed when he was harshly critical of the OLF. I literally told him: “boy, you can’t survive in Oromo politics by being so anti-OLF, for the organization is already the spirit of Bilisummà, whether it does things right or wrong.” After that, he became somewhat more reconciliatory. Secondly, I once initiated a fruitful discussion between him and Prof. Messay Kebede on the Ethiopian question. Thirdly, I tried to defend him by writing an article titled “Jawarawi Harakat“, especially when Neo-Naftagna elements targeted him after he asserted, “I am Oromo first.”
Few years ago, I read a very mature interview he gave to the BBC regarding Dr. Abiy in particular and Biltsiginnà in general. He no longer focuses solely on Oromian politics but is also concerned about broader Ethiopian issues—clearly recognizing that the future democratic Ethiopia can be Oropia (an Oromummà-led, colorful rainbow state). No other nation stands to benefit more than the Oromo from maintaining the national unity and territorial integrity of such an Ethiopia. That is why I would like to commend Jawar and other Oromo nationalists who are genuinely concerned about the disintegration of the Ethiopian state.
Did I, perhaps, contribute to Jawar changing his slogan from “Ethiopia out of Oromia” to “Ethiopia shall be Oropia”?
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/04/1 ... s-amharia/