The spritual leaders told them so the mighty king Minilk Gave it a second thought after a king in Gojam tried to build it but cancelled his plan.
Haile Sellassie came and designed the dam with a group of britsh engineers. His design was displayed on our currency according to my father who told me this story.
Now the midget meles was squeezed by Eskinder's arab spring movement, he rushed out to the media and announced he will start the dam and told all ethiopians to contribute so he collected billions of birr from poor Ethiopians. This was months after the yearly budget was already allocated and the dam was not part of the yearly budget at all, It was not even mentioned. Thanks to the arabs springs and Eskinder's pressure!

ለምን ይዋሻል
Now the oromuma to save itself from tplf united Ethiopians around the dam so the engineers kept going.... After he killed to project manager "Engineer Simegnew Bekele" (Rest in Peace Father!).
Your blood is not in vain!