OPDO members of Federal parliament opposed discussion on Addis Ababa Special interest

Ethiopia News
borkena
December 22, 2017

Having lost all other forms of divisive playing cards and desperate to stop OPDO (Oromo People’s Democratic Organization) and ANDM (Amhara National Democratic Movement), TPLF tabled in the Federal Parliament the issues of “Oromia special interest on Addis Ababa.” However, OPDO members of parliament stopped TPLF political spin when they opposed discussion on the agenda and walked out.

Ethiopian Satelite Television reported that Oromo Regional State Communication Head, Addisu Arega opposed the move first and the rest of OPDO members supported him. He reportedly argued that discussing Oromoia special interest over Addis Ababa is not a priority for his party when more than half a million Oromo’s are displaced from Somali region of Ethiopia and staying makeshift campus in the region. Quite a considerable number of OPDO members reportedly supported his position and the parliament was dissolved. Strange thing in this development is that Abadula Gemeda, who submitted resignation letter as speaker of the parliament on grounds that his party and people are disrespected, did not vote for the motion that Oromia Special interest on Addis Ababa is not a priority for OPDO.

“Addis Ababa Special interest” is perhaps the last playing card that the regime could use to put a dividing wall between Amhara and Oromo people.

This past weekend, OPDO and ANDM members of parliament boycotted regular sessions by demanding prime minister Hailemariam Desalegne to appear before parliament first to explain rising ethnic violence in South Eastern parts of Ethiopia and across institutions of higher learning.

The notion of “Oromoia special interest on Addis Ababa” is based on article 49 of the existing constitution which declares that “Oromia regional state” has a special interest over Addis Ababa. Oromo Speaking Ethiopians in Addis Ababa constitute about 5 % and the rest of residents are from other parts of Ethiopia.

Cover photo : Screenshot from ESAT latest News Youtube video



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