20 Civic Lessons Everybody Should Take to Heart A Federalist’s Guide to Justice, Truth, and Coexistence in Ethiopia
Excerpt
Civic lessons on subjects like federalism—so often mired in confusion and deliberate distortion—are essential tools for dismantling disinformation and reclaiming public truth. In a political climate where clarity is rare and propaganda rampant, these lessons serve as both shield and compass for citizens seeking justice, self-determination, and a truly inclusive Ethiopia. This bite-sized compilation is our attempt at a witty yet pointed way to get simple facts across. Do share widely—and in the comments, let us know which lesson(s) speak to you most.
Lesson #0
1 + 1 = 2. If You Agree, Proceed. Otherwise, Skip This Civic Lesson.
Explanation:
This is a rationality filter. Facts matter. Logic matters. Logic and facts are prerequisites. If you can’t agree on arithmetic or logic, political reasoning is pointless. You might be better off debating with flat-earthers.
Lesson #1
Multinational Federalism is Not Disunity—It’s Dignified Unity.
Explanation:
Federalism in general and Multinational Federalism in the Ethiopia case is actually the precondition for unity. Real unity comes only through mutual respect—and respect starts by acknowledging identity, language, and culture. Federalism does that. Want proof? Look at Switzerland, Belgium, or the EU. Unity without self-respect is just assimilation with a smile.
Lesson #2
If Someone Fears Federalism, It’s Usually Equality They Fear.
Explanation:
Federalism doesn’t create ethnic identity; it respects it—it institutionalizes fairness. If someone fears federalism, they’re often afraid of losing a privileged position inherited from the empire. The fear isn’t about disintegration—it’s about no longer having unchecked control. Ask yourself: Who benefits from denying Oromos, Somalis, Sidamas, or Wolayitas their voice?
Lesson #3
“Geographic Federalism” is Just the Empire in Camouflage.
Explanation:
When elites advocate for “geographic” or “administrative” federalism, they are calling for a return to provincial imperial Ethiopia. They won’t say “ጠቅላይ ግዛት” or “”province” anymore, but the logic is identical: dilute identity, centralize power, erase memory. They use “zones” and “regions” to repackage centralism. Watch out.
Lesson #4
Those Who Preach “Unity” Without Acknowledging Injustice Lack Emotional Intelligence.
Explanation:
Your Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ) reflects how deeply you understand the pain and grievances of others (empathy)—just as your IQ reflects how well you grasp general knowledge and logic (intelligence). Empathy is a civic skill a politician should possess. You don’t get to preach patriotism while ignoring the pain of the oppressed. You cannot build a stable country without understanding the historical trauma of the oppressed. Oromo, Sidama, Somali, Wolayita, and many others carry scars of the imperial subjugation.
Other than vilifying ethnic demands, neo-imperialists and unitarists like EZEMA show no empathy (have zero EQ) for the subjugation suffered by oppressed nations, nationalities, and peoples. Ponder this—can Birhanu Nega truly understand the grievances of the Oromo, Sidama, Wolaita, and others? As a unitarist betraying even his own ethnic group, he remains in denial of the legitimate grievances of his own ethnic people. Birhanu Nega, with his own admission, came into politics to stop the Oromo from self determination. We never witnessed him addressing the grievances of the Oromo people. All he is interested in is Oromia, not the people. Individuals with no EQ do not deserve to be in politics and you shouldn’t give them attention either.
Lesson #5
“Ethnic Politics” is Only Condemned When It’s Used by the Oppressed.
Explanation:
Every empire had its ethnic core—be it Amhara in Ethiopia, English in the British Empire, or French in West Africa. But only when the historically dominated groups organize along their ethnic identities do we hear cries of “ethnic politics.” This hypocrisy must be called out. The same people who ignore Amharic dominance in federal institutions cry foul when Afaan Oromo gains official status in Oromia. It’s not “ethnic politics” they oppose—it’s equality.
Lesson #6
Unity Without Justice is Tyranny.
Explanation:
Calls for unity sound noble—until you ask: Unity for whom? If unity means silencing your language, assimilating into someone else’s culture, or accepting the erasure of your history, then it’s not unity. It’s domination. True unity emerges after justice, never before it. Multinational federalism is the only model that allows both justice and unity to coexist. There’s no “post-ethnic” Ethiopia without pre-justice. You don’t transcend ethnicity by pretending it doesn’t exist. You transcend it by addressing grievances, ensuring cultural rights, and creating structures that protect identity. “Let’s forget ethnicity” is not healing—it’s gaslighting.
Lesson #7
Federalism Didn’t Fail—It Was Mugged in Daylight.
Explanation:
Those blaming the federal structure for instability conveniently ignore how it has been systematically undermined from the top. Undermining self-rule in Oromia, infringing on Sidama’s autonomy, and nullifying Tigray’s elections are all blatant violations of federal principles. If federalism is to succeed, the constitution must be respected. Ethiopia’s federalism has not failed; it has been deliberately sabotaged. Regional self-rule was overridden by military command posts. Ethiopia’s crisis did not stem from federalism—it resulted from the betrayal of the federal covenant.
Lesson #8
Amharic Privilege is Not Neutral—It’s a Colonial Inheritance.
Explanation:
A true federation respects all languages equally. When only one is made official and privileged in courts, education, and bureaucracy, it’s cultural dominance—not unity. Afaan Oromo and other major regional languages deserve full status, not tokenism. If a neutral language like English were adopted as a common working language for all, then—and only then—could it be considered truly neutral.
Lesson #9
“Ethiopia” Is 80 Years Old — The 3,000-Year Claim Is Its Forged Birth Certificate.
Explanation:
The modern state called Ethiopia took its current name unofficially in 1931 Haile Selassie’s constitution and officially in the year 1945 upon joining the United Nations. The “Aethiopia” of biblical times referred to dark-sinned people south of Egypt—nothing to do with Menelik’s empire in the making then. Historical myth has been used as a tool to fabricate a sense of continuity that never existed—an act of revisionism exemplified by Haile Selassie’s deliberate linkage of the modern state to biblical references.
Lesson #10
To Oppose Oppression is Not to Oppose Ethiopia. It is to Save it.
Explanation:
Critics of federalism often say its proponents are “anti-Ethiopia.” That’s like saying Martin Luther King was anti-America. Wanting justice, equality, and self-rule is the highest form of loyalty. It means you want a country worth living in—not one built on silencing and erasure. Federalism is the only way to keep Ethiopia intact with dignity. Without federalism, Ethiopia cannot endure—certainly not as an empire. All empires eventually collapse, and Ethiopia will be no exception. Dismantling federalism will not bring unity; it will ignite unrest and accelerate its disintegration.
Lesson #11
Every “Ethiopianist” Who Hates Federalism is a Selective Historian.
Explanation:
They quote Menelik and Haile Selassie but forget massacres, annexations, and forced assimilations. You can’t whitewash the past and then accuse the oppressed of bringing ethnicity into politics. The empire was ethnic first.
Lesson #12
A Constitution Isn’t Toilet Paper. You Can’t Tear It Up When You Feel Like It.
Explanation:
A constitution is a social contract—not a brochure. The Ethiopian Constitution guarantees self-rule, language rights, and even secession. You can’t use it one day, ignore it the next, and still expect people to trust the state. Respect the rules—or expect resistance.
Lesson #13
Don’t Confuse “One Country” with “One Culture.”
Explanation:
China is one country with 56 recognized ethnicities. India is a federal republic with over 20 official languages. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. Ethiopia can change it’s status from empire to country with a true federation.
Lesson #14
Oromo Identity or Oromummaa is Not the Enemy of Ethiopia—It’s the Test of Ethiopia.
Explanation:
If the system cannot accommodate Oromo identity, culture, and political expression, it has already failed the test of inclusion. Oromummaa is not a threat to the state—it is a challenge for the state to mature. Just as Oromummaa articulates Oromo identity, so too do Amaranet, Sidamanet, Tigrawinet, and others express the rightful presence of their respective nations.
Lesson #15
Prosperity Party Members are Not Agents of Democracy—They are Agents of Subjugation.
Explanation:
In Oromia, the core members of the Prosperity Party (PP) regime are former OPDO cadres—creations of Meles Zenawi. Similarly, in the Amhara region, their counterparts are the former ADP. Other regional affiliates also exist, except Tigray, all of which rebranded themselves under the Ethiopia-wide umbrella of PP, effectively replacing the EPRDF. Yet, the same old faces remain in power—subservient veterans of the repressive EPRDF system who stumbled into leadership by accident. Power, along with the easy money that comes through corruption, has proven so intoxicating that they are now determined to cling to it at any cost.
They even tell you, “If you win, we’ll kiss you goodbye and go our own way.” Psychology 101: the fact that they offer such fine-grained reassurances says more than they intend. And don’t forget—their ‘dear leader’ is busy building himself a palace. A good indicator that he’s not planning to leave any time soon.
Lesson #16
The Oromo Struggle is Not a Threat—It’s a Liberation Roadmap For All.
Explanation:
Oromo demands are not supremacy—they are justice. When the Oromo nation wins equality, all other oppressed nations find a path forward too. Supporting the Oromo struggle is supporting structural fairness.
Lesson #17
Never Trust a Party That Uses an Emotive Name like “Enat” (“mother”), Disingenuous Names Like HIBIR (“United”) or Imperial Name ‘Ethiopia’ Thrown in.
Explanation:
These names often carry hidden agendas. Think about it: Ethiopia has a lot that needs to change. We have no issue with the name itself, but we do take issue with its use as a political motto—because it’s anchored in the root of the very problem. By contrast, never be ashamed to use your national or ethnic name to promote your legitimate interests. Unitarists may vilify this, even calling you a racist—but, surprise surprise, it is they who perpetuate racism through denial and dominance.
Lesson #18
Every Regime Falls. PP Regime is No Exception.
Explanation:
Imperial rule fell. Derg fell. TPLF’s state-within-a-state fell. PP regime inherited the tactics but will not escape the verdict. PP regime is not special—it’s next. This is not “if,” it’s “when.” Learn from history or be buried by it.
Lesson #19
Multiple Flags Don’t Divide a Country—Forced Flags Do.
Explanation:
Oromia, Sidama, Somali, Tigray, Afar, etc.—each has a flag. That’s not division. That’s identity. Respect them all or expect backlash.
Lesson #20
Digital Disinformation is the New Empire—Don’t be Its Soldier.
Explanation:
When social media shames you for defending your identity or mocks federalism, it’s often desperate propaganda. Think before you repost. Don’t echo your own erasure. If, on the other hand, you are a Faarseebulaa, take note of Lesson #18.
Selected References
- “Federalism“, Wikipedia.
- “Federalism: Social Science“, Encyclopedia Britannica.
- OT Editorial, The Death of Federalism by Agenda, 6 June 2025, OROMIA TODAY.
- OT Editorial, Assert Your Rights – Stand Tall or Be Trampled, 27 May 2025, OROMIA TODAY.
- OT Editorial, Digital Serfdom in Ethiopia: Faarseebulaa, Propaganda, and the Politics of Praise, 22 May 2025, OROMIA TODAY.
- OT Editorial, Haile Selassie’s Chilling Assimilation Blueprint of 1933 for the Oromo: When ‘Unity’ Meant Erasure 7 May 2025, OROMIA TODAY.
- OT Editorial, How a False Unity of Mythical Ethiopia Was Manufactured Through Annexation and Assimilation, 9 April 2025, OROMIA TODAY.
- Oli Boran, The Myth of Ethiopia’s Historical Continuity: A Political Invention Disguised as Legacy, 17 March 2025, OROMIA TODAY.
- Elemoo Qilxuu, ETHIOPIA’S 6 BIG LIES FUELING ITS IMPENDING COLLAPSE, 13 March 2024, OROMIA TODAY.
