Obbo Bulcha Demeksa Was Bold Enough to Use Oromic in Parliament – Something the OLF Leaders Didn’t Dare!
By Fayyis Oromia*
We have lost a bold and courageous Oromo father—Obbo Bulcha Demeksa—who was the first to speak Oromic in the Ethiopian Parliament. Sadly, even the OLF leaders like Obbo Galàsà Dilbo and Dr. Dima Nagô didn’t dare to do the same. He was among the few Oromo elites, like Dr. Haile Fida, who understood the central importance of promoting Oromic to its rightful and legitimate primary position in Ethiopia. He clearly knew that the free use of Oromic in federal institutions would mark the transformation of Ethiopia into Oropia—a state led by Oromummà.
To such visionary elites, an independent Oropia (which may mean earning a net salary) was secondary to an integrative Oropia (owning the gross wealth of the union). That’s why he passionately advocated for Ethiopian unity with Afàn Oromô as the primary working language at the federal level.
Now, it is encouraging to see that the OLF members within the OPP have finally started to speak Oromic in the Ethiopian Parliament—a core principle championed by Ob. Bulchà Damaqsà during the TPLF (Woyane) era. It took them six years to muster this courage. A commendable step, although delayed and still insufficient. In fact, all Oromo parliamentarians—starting with Dr. Abiy—should have respected and used their own language, instead of revering the assimilator’s language, Amharic. Unfortunately, many still exhibit a slave mentality that must first be liberated for them to truly take pride in their mother tongue. Nevertheless, the OLFites within the OPP are slowly gaining courage to lead this liberating work. Well done!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/03/1 ... rosperity/