ODP,ADP in good terms; no political difference, says ADP top official

Collision course between Amhara Democratic Party (ADP) and Oromo Democratic Party (ODP), both members of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition EPRDF,is dismissed by the former’s top official.

Talking to journalists on Monday in Bahir Dar, just after two days evaluative meetings of Amhara Democratic Party (ADP), the Party’s central committee office head, Yohannes Boayalew, says, those who are taking joy with the alleged political difference between Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) and ADP need to be informed about the bad news.

And the bad news is, according to ADP, that relation is stronger not only between the two parties but also between Oromo and Amhara people.

The parties are working to brighten the future of Ethiopia, added Yohannes, according to Amhara Mass Media Agency report published on March 25, 2019.

He related the seemingly shock-laden rumors of political difference between the ethnic-Amhara and ethnic-Oromo parties within the ruling coalition Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) to what he said is the new political culture of openness.
“Because Ethiopian politics was secretive, differences in ideas may sound like a political collision. But it is a healthy change,” said Yohannes.

Yohannes Boayalew, who is said to be one of the emerging political heavyweights within ADP, also said that his party does not have a problem with Tigray regional state either except that the latter is refusing to hand over criminals who have looted the country. “It is a matter of time that people of Amara and Tigray, who are blood related, will one day struggle together against looters,” said the party.

In its latest two days of the meeting, the party also evaluated the political, social and economic issues in the region seemingly against the backdrop of the reform measures that have been taken over the course of the past one year. And the party’s position in that regard is that while actions taken to foster the reform process are good, conflicts and security issues have been observed in the region. It has also evaluated that conflicts and security problems in the region had a negative impact on the economy.

ADP condemned the incidents in Bahir Dar and Dessie in the past two days. On Saturday, activists who were in the founding meeting of Wollo Hibret were attacked reportedly by a group of radical groups who seem to see the new organization as a threat to the causes of ethnic Amhara people. On Sunday, Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 movement leader, Berhanu Nega, who was scheduled to have a meeting in Bahir Dar, was obstructed by a group of young people who claim to be former members of the movement and some were seen armed with AK 47. And the meeting had to be cancelled. ADP’s Yohannes labeled those incidents as outlandish. Those are “not in line with society’s interest in peace and the level of political consciousness of people in the region.”

The party has also remarked on the issue of Addis Ababa. The position is that it is the city of all Ethiopians’ and other sister organizations of the ruling coalition, EPRDF, believe that way too, according to AMMA report. And there is no political ideology that could take forceful measure against the convictions on the status of Addis Ababa, ADP’s top official added.



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