Prof. Merera and Obang support PP-EPRDF merger
(Yeroo Magazine) Despite opposing its strategy, Oromo opposition leader Professor Merera Gudina gave his support for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s new Prosperity Party (PP), according to state media report this morning. Meanwhile Anuak-Ethiopian human rights activist Obang Metho said Dr. Abiy’s PP merger will push Ethiopia into “civilized politics,” away from one solely based on identity or ethnicity.
Dr. Merera, who is famous for advocating a “One man, one vote” democratic principle among the Oromo opposition for decades, said he believes the EPRDF-PP merger will contribute towards “politics of ideas” in Ethiopia. However, the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) chairman Prof. Merera said EPRDF changing its structure is not enough as it needs to change its whole program as well.
Obang said the ruling party’s recent transformation is, in fact, late and long overdue.
Somali, Afar, Gambella and other political parties previously marginalized on the national stage have now joined Dr. Abiy’s PP. Other than the TPLF sub-party (the former leader of EPRDF) all other branches of the ruling party have supported the merger. However, Yeroo media sources claim that some members of the TPLF and Tigrayan opposition groups have privately reached out to Dr. Abiy’s office to join the new party.
In addition to organizations representing small ethnic groups, opposition politicians from multiethnic cities joining Dr.Abiy’s PP will provide legitimacy for the ruling party’s ambitions inside urban centers like Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, said the source.
