Tigrayans are not "Ethiopians" but "The Ethiopians"
Though Ethiopia is not the Axumite Empire it is a country born out of the ashes of the Axumite Empire . The Tigrayans have given themselves 100% to defend and build Ethiopia even though they frequently face betrayal from ungrateful internal rivals. The various wars Tigrayans fought alone and with other Ethiopians to defend Ethiopia and the efforts of TPLF to develop Ethiopia for 27 years verify to that effect. Both Emperor Yohannes and PM Meles also gave their precious life for uncompromisingly defending the interest of Ethiopia.