Addis Ababa — OPDO, though young in age, has been discharging a huge constructive role in the country’s pre-and-post Derg regime, Abay, who is also founding member of the TPLF/EPRDF, told WIC.
“The organization’s role in realizing the current modern Ethiopia is irreplaceable,” he said.
Even during its young age, OPDO quickly transformed itself into a more democratically organized politically entity and began organizing, arming and convincing the Oromo people to wage war against Derg, he said.
The Organization had been able to set up five battalions in a very short period of time and fully participated in the last offensive against Derg, which according Abay is a historical and key contribution for the end of the dictatorial regime.
After the defeat of the Derg regime and during the transitional period, OPDO had took active part in stabilizing the Oromia Regional State, introducing idea of democracy and ensuring equality and economic benefit of the residents.
He said OPDO was able to convince various factions and the Oromo people how the fundamental objective of the Oromo Liberation Front’s (OLF) is harmful.
He further noted that the Organization managed to convince the Oromo people that building democracy and expediting development is the only way for the people to live in unity and prosperity.
OPDO played great role in addressing the Oromo people’s century old questions for equality, economic and democratic rights as well as language and cultural freedom, he said.
“OPDO is an honest party that sacrificed much, struggled longer to fulfill the interest and address the basic questions of the Oromo people,” he noted.
Under the leadership of that Organization, investment, infrastructure and other development activities are expanding in the Oromia regional state, he said.
The prevailing peace and stability, the ongoing fast economic growth and the democratization process in the regional state and Ethiopia are the results of OPDO’s immense role, he concluded.