by Tedla Asfaw

I am extremely a happy man this week witnessing Ethiopian patriotism from Melbourne, Australia to Dallas, USA. Since May 18 of this year which is dubbed as ” MelesCare” in North America for Meles Zenawi being tested by the Hurricane named Abebe the regime supporters with 2 to 3 million dollar, Al Amoudin funded “soccer” festival which is in fact a moral boosting dance for Meles supporters . The “Vigara” did not work and RFK Stadium was deserted and empty on July 1, 2012 afternoon. MelesCare is defeated.

Contrary to RFK, Ethiopian organized soccer in Dallas was packed and Ethiopian flag was flying high with great pride. On this day of love for Ethiopia and for all her children came the news of Dr. Negasso Gidada serious illness. On Nov. 29, 2009 I wrote a piece, “Welcome home Dr. Negasso Gidada and we are still waiting for the arrival of Seye Abraha”.

Dr. Negasso Gidada publicly apologized for the Ethiopian people in 2009 for endorsing Woyane’s Constitution of division and the “WMD” of Woyane, Article 39, and since then he got more love from Ethiopian people and has since been rejected by the regime. A man who was a president of Ethiopia was thrown out without home and financial support for his service for rejecting Woyane’s more than a decade and half experiment of nations and nationalities that brought poverty for all Ethiopians by enriching few Woyane servants/Ashkeris.

Dr. Negasso Gidada has influenced many Oromo brothers and sisters to fight for equality and unity. His honesty has set a new bar for our politicians, accepting responsibility for once failure and move on. I can say he is the first Ethiopian politician in the last four decades to do so by asking for forgiveness in public. Ethiopians has embraced him since then and his well being is very important to all Ethiopians.

The news of his sickness once it reaches to the Diaspora community many will be ready to help. The festival in Dallas is a good opportunity to show solidarity with Dr. Negasso Gidada and his family. We are with you Dr. Negasso Gidada. Many Ethiopian politicians and activists in Diaspora has since followed your footstep apologized for more than two decades of division and come together to celebrate their diversity. The young man who was on horse back carrying the Ethiopian flag in Dallas Stadium can be one patriotic Oromo, Tigre, Amhara, Sidama, Somali, Afar etc who came to defend the motherland from all anti Ethiopia elements. When Woyane cadres early in the 1990s tried to bulldoze Emeye Menelik Statue Oromos from near Addis came on horseback to defend it. If Menelik had been alive he would have also asked forgiveness for lost lives during his reign.

It is only Woyane and its Ashkeris who are in business of hate and division. They are very few in numbers in Diaspora and they are the target of all Ethiopians. The humiliation of Shifreaw Shigute in Canada last month and this past week the Melbourne, “Occupy Hyatt” protest against Woyane Cadres, RFK boycott in Washington, DC showed that Ethiopians of all ethnic groups have reached their final goal of removing Woyane from the Diaspora.

The brave jailed journalists like Eskinder Nega, Reyot Alemau, political opposition leaders like Andualem and others jailed for more than two decades for their bravery. Dr. Negasso Gidada even if not jailed is a marked man and his illness might be welcomed in Woyane camp for us it is a big loss. We need to save his life by doing our part. Welcome home Dr. Negasso Gidada and Wish You Well too.