የኢትዮዽያውያን ዴሞክራቶች ድረ-ገፅEthiopian Democrats' Website

By Mersea Kidan

He is more Charismatic than handsome, his oratorical skill can move mountains, he stands affirm with his true values, he can rally hundreds of thousands of people with his words, young and old men and women revered him, his partners and opponents envied him, he is courageous but filled with humility, Who is he?

I know you would be tempted to throw names of great people you know. Of those, I am sure; Obama and Mandela would get the highest number of guesses. Of course, Mandela and Obama are all those things listed above. But I was talking about one of us, Ethiopians. Lidetu Ayalew.

Once, people revered him, rallied behind him carrying slogans and shouting “Lidetu, Ethiopian Mandela”. News papers reported about him everyday labeling him “Mandela”. But all this could continue only until those who envied him got the opportunity to destroy him. His charisma and political savvies produced both jealousy and admiration. The mass admired him but the elite envied him. But the envy did not remain envy, it turned in to jealousy. Those who were jealous were fierce and mean. They put their resources together and used their most effective tool, Defamation. They leveraged their financial power and media to defame him. Rumors and hearsays propagated initiated by the very people he considered his partners. The mass, which once loved and admired him, turned against him deceived by those who are jealous. They hated to hear his name; they burned his pictures and named him “betrayer”. Everyone who knows his innocence was shocked with amazement by how much truth can be easily overcome by false.

Despite all the pressure Lidetu remained truthful to his heart. He stood firm with his values. He chose to be hated with the truth than loved with deceit. He counted on the ultimate judgment of Ethiopian people than deceitful tactics. He went against all odds confidently believing that Ethiopian people would, sooner or later, know the truth and with their humble heart give him back his deserved respect.

Well, anyone who follows Ethiopian politics can see that Lidetu is vindicated. Now Lidetu has regained his deserved position in Ethiopian politics. Formerly he was labeled Mandela because he promoted “tolerance” and forgiveness. He promised Meles Zenawi that, if the then CUD wins, Meles would walk freely on the streets of Addisababa with all his rights respected. This promise and other inspirational speeches of him earned him the name Ethiopian Mandela. Now he added hope and vision to his politics of tolerance and forgiveness. He is trying to show what Ethiopia can achieve than blaming the incumbent. He wants to be elected for his strength than the incumbent’s weakness. He supports and opposes rationally than blindly. Now Ethiopian people have third alternative which Lidetu’s party named “The third way”. He wants to create a hopeful generation. This time he brought to us “Hope”. It is most probable that people will label him Obama for his message of hope. Whether he is named Mandela or Obama it is the same Lidetu who remained true to his values. The Invictus.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

Henley

Mersea Kidan

mersea.kidan@gmail.com

Invictus Indeed!!!

Dear Mersea!

That is very true! I want to express to you my appreciation for breaking the silent. 

You are also our hero who resisted all those challenges and doing a marvelous job.

GOD is helping the truth to be seen.

Keep on!!

GOD BLESS YOU!!!

Dear Mersa Kidan,

Ato Ledetu is all what you said and probably more. We who believed in his innocence must thank God that those days are gone. There were times when I was worried for his life, when the defamation was at its climax. But this success history of Ato ledetu is not only his personal achievement. He had a party with its enthusiastic and committed leadership that stood by him through those hard days. They believed in his genuine commitment for the right cause of the Ethiopian people. They were convinced that the glory days of EDP shall come. With a leadership and a party of such a commitment it will be easier to bear the heavy burden that Ledetu had. I say members of EDP and its leadership should be praised too for their ardent support to Ledetu in those difficult days.

No need to compare Ato Ledetu with Mandela, Gandhi or Obama. He is just LEDETU and that is enough. I assume that he will protest against a comparison of such magnitude. Ethiopia is a big country in the wrong hands and It will produce a lot of Ledetus in the future who will rise to the call of duty and achieve miracles if things don’t change to the better soon.

Irrespective of the election outcome EDP with its leader Ato Ledetu has proven to the Ethiopian people that it is a party to relay upon and a party of the future.

I would like finally to congratulate you for the wonderful contribution you make through your web site. Keep up the good work.

Dear Mersea Kidan

I am very intersted by the website that you have developped and the articles you write on this website, and also on Reporter and other journals. You contributed a lot to let us know the truth.

I agree that Lidetu, is best politician in Ethiopia. I can say that he can out smart the prime minister himself, if there is an opportunity to discuss their arguments between Libreral and Revolutionary democracy. However, I don't think one person can change everything, rather institutions do. I also believe that he can't creat these institutions. We all have to contribut to develop these institutions, at least within EDP.

EDP forever.

Dear Mersea

I think, what you write about Lidetu did not and couldn’t convince you yourself. To begin with, let alone Mandela and Obama, we couldn’t compare the guy with a simple citizen who have a firm stand on what he think right. Allow me to list few indicators.

Lidetu is so selfish. Contrary to any politician who have a dream to his country and people, his worries are always narrow and about him. Remember his recent speech on Parliament. Unexpected from a leader of a “political party” who prepared 230 or so candidates for parliament, he consumed his time by crying about the “problems” occurred where he runs. Again in his interview on Addis Admass, he exclusively mention about Lalibela. All in all, what is a success to him is victory to him, and whatever happen to others! What selfishness!

As all know, the person is not a man of his stands. We Ethiopians respect people who have firm stand for what they really think right. Equally importantly, we have a little place for those who change the colour of their skin when “a bad day” comes. Compare Eng. Hailu and lidetu. Eng. Hailu made a mistake (a big one) which practically divide CUD. Lidetu’s role in this regard is insignificant, as he with 3 or 4 “kids” left the party. Though most of us understand that Hailu was wrong in his position to divide CUD, we all respect him, as he did that wrongly. What about Lidetu? Most people will change the channel or swtch their TV or radio when they see his face/hear his voice. Am I comparing the uncomparable?

Dear Netsi,

It is great that you come foreward and express your opinion on my article about Ato Lidetu Ayalew. There is nothing I want to respond to you. But I ask yo to keep your mind open and the "Truth" shall come in one day. I can see that you are emotionally angry and saddened by the fate of the former Kinijit. I assume that anger came out of your wish for your country to be united and prosperous. I ask you too keep your hopes and wishes up. because I know that if you do that, one day you will see the "Truth" and march with us (EDP) for Peace, Unity and Prosperity in Ethiopia.

Dear M/Kidane

The problem with people like NESTI is that they had given their support to EDP and Ledetu before the 2005 election not based on a knowledge of EDP’s political position. It was based on emotions and hatred for Meles and EPRDF. To my knowledge EDP and Ldetu never flinched an inch from their political stands which they had from the very start. The conflict with Kinijt was a major political difference which couldn’t be resolved through discussions and negotiations. Ledetu and his party have done all they could, but in vain, to resolve the problem through negotiation. It was then appropriate to dissociate EDP from the wrong policy of the so called Kinijt leadership. No need to discuss that now. Time has proven it well beyond doubt. The leaders of Kinijt have continued their quarrels and divisions until now and have proved that Ethiopia has never been their priority while EDP’s and ledetus popularity has progressively increased in Ethiopia. NESTI, do you follow EDP’s meetings in the different towns of Ethiopia? People once again rally behind EDP and its leader Ledetu. People understand now Ledetu’s commitment for the peaceful struggle that he started for more than ten years ago. The days of defamation, rumors and hearsays are gone and if somebody tries to use the old rotten tactic of defamation, like they did in Lalibela, it is appropriate that Ledetu and the party confront and expose them. NESTI, why don’t you instead get annoyed on those who create and spread foals news? The election in Ethiopia is a very serious process. Is it ok for you that certain people use that forum for defamation?

Dear Mersea Thank you for your reply, though you prefer to systematically retreat from answering my two simple and straight forward questions. Though I remain reading your articles on this website and other sites, I am still believing that you are one of the deceived people by the ?famous? Lidetu, as most of us were before the revelation of his real identity, than considering you as part of the satire comedy drama written and directed by the ?artist? Lidetu. As I could understand, you have a good potential to contribute to the real struggle to the freedom and democracy in Ethiopia. So, I sisterly advised you to consider your stand in the struggle for freedom, and take the right position. About Tesfa, let me give you simple correction. Lidetu is not leading the real EDP. The real EDP is the one which voted for the unification of CUD as one party. But, Lidetu and 2 or 3 people who earn their livelihood from ?dirty politics? opposed the majority decision and betrayed with TPLF/EPRDF to get the party license. I guess that Lidetu did this because of his hidden mission while Moshie (?the Masters holder?) and Abdurahim (?the kid politician?) did this just for the sake of Injera. You know the truth, we know the truth, and the people know it. Let God give you enough Injera, so that you may start living for what you believe. With love and sympathy for those who deceived by believing what some people speaks reflects what they believe, which is a great mistake done by many of us, though timely corrected.

Dear NETSI,

Mersea had right when he chose not to indulge in any discussion with you. You are emotional and not at all objective. I believe that discussions of this kind are unfruitful. I see that you are very annoyed and frustrated by what happened in the 2005 election. Your frustration is shared by many including me. Your anger and hatred is so much that you even insult people whom you don’t know. Hatred is, my friend, energy consuming and not productive. I suggest that you canalize that energy in fighting against Meles and EPRDF. I respect your political position and would neither hate nor insult you for that. You are entitled to your opinion. By the way, thank you sister for wishing me Injera. You stated “Let God give you enough Injera, so that you may start living for what you believe “. God has already taken care of that. No need to say that I am a very highly paid person in the western world and a provider of injera for many. But I still I believe that EDP is the right party for Ethiopia and you can’t do anything about it. You might try to show me where I am wrong in a rather civilized manner. Who know, you might succeed in convincing me or in the process you might change your mind. I wish you all the best.

There is no doubt that Lidetu is one of the most influential politicians of our time and has already made a huge mark in the country that will resonate for a log time to come. The coordinated character assassination has almost destroyed him and the people who organized that will live in infamy in Ethiopian political history.

But to claim Lidetu has nothing or every thing to do with the debacle of Kinijit is a very simplistic and partisan outlook that will help no one. Whether out of poor judgment or ill advise Lidetu and EDP has contributed their share to the downfall of Kinijit as well as Lidetu. What we have to determine is the degree of the blame and learn from it. To highlight only the fault of others and only the glorious work of one self is useless in the long run.

And that is what worries me most. EDP is a very different type of organization from what we have experienced and that has an advantage and disadvantage as far as the Ethiopian political discourse is concerned. Lack of an honest self assessment is the surest way to loose the confidence of the public.

I think at the moment EDP and it's leaders and members are due to the massive attack and kind of defeat they suffered are in a defensive mode and developed a "siege mentality". EDP and particularly Lidetu has some how lost the open and fluidity of communication with the audience. The almost uncanny ability of Lidetu to read his audience and attune his message is replaced by the need to attune the audience to his message. He is overplaying his victim card and does not even realize that he might loose the audience because of it. No one likes and wants as a leader who plays victim. The truth is every one of us played our part as a society when some one is victimized. Keeping silent it self is a kind of role. Therefore an audience do not want to be reminded of that. And Lidetu should be able to read that and get on with the business of politics for Ethiopia as he used to be.

The other subject I would like to discuss is the openness and accessibility of the party to the public. that i might come back on another time.

Netsi

Some times it helps to get once facts straight. Lidetu did not leave kinijit, he was thrown out.

Dear Tesfa,

What is your position at the moment after the election? Did you have the lesson from the vote? Medrek, that was cursed by Lidetu and EPRDF, got comparable vote with out having access to preach the public. When I wondered around the polling station and called the country side on the morrow of the election, i saw and heard <30, 400 and 500 votes for EDP and related parties, MEDREK and EPRDF respectively. What is the lesson for you? Is Lidetu and EDP still the hero for the people? What is your measuring stick? If you want to correct yourself and try to do what you wrote on your manifesto, you have to understand the lesson as Nesti tried to give the information: Be on your view you believe it is true! Every of us were impressed with what Lidetu told and with what EDP put on the manifesto. The real activity behind is all the same: the struggle to power! Personal power! For that power, unity is useless. That is why division is put in Ethiopia as a bacterium. That is why what ever they talk nice, the people gave none for those they multiplied like a bacteria and gave its vote even with a lot of fear for MEDREK, that the people didn't know what they were.

Mastewalun yisten.

Finot