The issue of personality of the elite group has always been a point of emphasis in my opinion pieces addressing political matters. Indeed, it is my creed that the headache of Ethiopian politics emanates not from complex or/and competitive interests across the corners of the political field, but from ill personality of elite groups who steer politics.
As I observed it so, lack of integrity of the elite group is a visible factor that stifled Ethiopian political scene for which the wider populace is set to pay the price. The deviation – on ‘what our political elites speak for’ and ‘what they actually are’ – is often wider. An exemplary Ethiopian politician in this regard is Lidetu Ayalew.
As entrusted to my soul, I am not a man of hatred (of other) in my personal character or a hagiographer in my writing career. My working principle in life is to focus on ideals (motives) behind behaviors of people, not merely on peoples behaviors. I do respect the innate right of men to choose between ideas and so much appreciate adherence to ones ideal too.
But a moment of sadness comes when I learn men are dishonest to their ideals. It is out of a feeling of such sadness that this piece is motivated.
Lidetu Ayalews ‘MEDLOT’ Vis-à-vis Abiy Ahmeds ‘MEDEMER’
For long, Lidetu Ayalew was a person to my admiration not just as a charismatic speaker, but as he daringly knocked on an important element of Ethiopian political decay, that is the political personalities of the elite group. I took a fair fetch notes from his book MEDLOT, published in 2010. In his book, he emphasized on the third way, which he emphasized a path to better political development in Ethiopia. He stressed logic and principles should be the governing rules of political discourse in the Ethiopian political scenery.
Upon publishing his book – MEDLOT, however, Lidetu Ayalew disappeared from the Ethiopian political scene, before he reappeared since Abiy Ahmed (PhD) came to the apex of government in 2018. His came back, I considered a boost to Ethiopian political culture. It was my hope Lidetu could give additional power to Abiy Ahmed and his leadership in mending the fractures of Ethiopian political culture: hatred, hostilities & blaming mentalities.
My presumption so lies in two.
For one, Abiy’s MEDEMER and Lidetu's MEDLOT have a lot in common in justifying the evils of Ethiopian political culture the main hindrance to the progress of Ethiopia and its people. Moreover, I thought the both political figures can live essentials of their books in their political careers too.
Where is the Difference between Lidetu Ayalew and Abiy Ahmed (PhD)?
Looking at their books, Lidetu and Abiy are similar. Though they look same in face value, they were different in real value. But where is the difference?
The difference I saw between Lidetu Ayalew and Abiy Ahmed (PhD) is only the level of adherences and energy to live by their values, as we get them in text on their respective books.
In this regard, I see Lidetu failed either to live by himself or influence others on his creed. In decade since he published this book, however, I saw Lidetu rather immersed himself into the evils of Ethiopian politics for which he condemned it in his book MEDLOT.
Hearing from his most recent interviews, it is ironic to note Lidetu’s take on Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and his leadership was motivated by prejudices and negative thought and arrogance.
On the contrary, Abiy Ahmed has proved to have been living his ideals on MEDEMER not only in his private lives, but also in all steps of leadership roles he passed through since he joined the civil sector finishing his long military services in Ethiopian Defense Forces in 2012.
In every step of his leadership roles, Abiy Ahmed has been exploiting all the means and tools to implement his working principle, MEDEMER, devoting extraordinary observance to his values. Abiys political past tells the extent of endurance he exerted to see his vision, of making his values the ruling principles of state.
The prudence of his ideals coupled with his positive energy to achieve his vision has garnered him a spectacular attentions and admirations that grew up all from small group of individuals in his circles to the wider Ethiopian, and finally to the world indeed.
What Motivated Lidetus Non-sense Criticism against Abiy Ahmeds Leadership?
Some may attest Lidetus vehement critic against Abiy Ahmed may be motivated by the latter has ‘stolen’ his political agenda.
Whatever the similarities is there between MEDEMER and MEDLOT in the context of their political implications, at least Lidetu Ayalew has no moral stance to appeal against Abiy in this regard. This is because, I see no any attempt from Lidetu in the past decades or so to live by the connotations of MEDLOT, as one may fetch from his political speeches or acts. Nor did he exerted enough to implement the ideals of MEDLOT .
For me, what motivated Lidetus empty criticisms is self-defiance to confess own weaknesses. Indeed, for anyone who is attentive of this man in the past couple of years or so learn the fact that he is immersed in blaming mentality.
I cannot deny Lidetu’s role on the Ethiopian political field in the past. In the present and in times ahead though, Lidetu is an obsolete politician with little, if any, positive contribution to Ethiopian political system. My honest suggestion for him is that he better manage his future away from Politics.
Though Lidetu and his ideals appears not weighing in influencing public life, the essence of exploring inside the mind of this political figure has an important connotation to ordinary Ethiopians on the behavioral effects of laziness.
How Lidetu Ayalew is behaving is a good reminder to all us that failing to deliver our roles or inability to exploit our potentials manifest in breeding blaming mentality later in our ages.
The message is clear, lets live in deeds, not in years!
ሩህ ሚዲያ - Ruh Media 