Public office is not a playground for personal arrogance, nor is it a stage for hurling insults at those with differing perspectives. It is, above all, a responsibility—a duty to conduct oneself with dignity, reason, and respect.
Obbo Hailu Adunya, the spokesperson of the Oromia Regional Administration, seems to have missed this fundamental truth in his crude tirade against the leaders of Oromia political parties.
At the recent assembly, delegates came forward with a proposal—including a transitional government—to resolve long-standing political and security issues. Whether the Oromia administration agrees with it or not is one thing, but dismissing them with contempt is another matter entirely. A spokesperson is expected to engage with civility, not resort to playground insults. Yet, Obbo Hailu Adunya chose to unleash a barrage of mockery, referring to the party leaders in Amharic “እየቃዡ ነው”, which carries connotations closer to “bearers of nightmares” than any hopeful vision. His patronizing claim that he could “teach them the ABC of the constitution” was like an apprentice lecturing his master, oblivious to the depth of wisdom he presumed to surpass.
Such behavior is unbecoming of any official, but especially one who speaks on behalf of a regional administration. It reeks of insecurity, of a man so overwhelmed by his own position that he compensates with bluster instead of substance. Educated and principled persons do not need to shout others down; they counter ideas with ideas, not insults. Or is this a sign that Obbo Hailu Adunya is struggling to withstand the pressure OLA is placing on the Oromo Administration?
Or, could it be that Obbo Hailu Adunya was merely echoing the contemptuous tone set by his boss, Obbo Shimelis Abdissa—who, by now, has cemented a reputation for insolence? If so, he is not alone in this degrading spectacle. The deputy president, Obbo Awalu Abdi, seems determined to outdo them all in sheer offensiveness. His recent remark is vividly recalled likening the OLA freedom fighters to wild animals, dismissing them as creatures who had lost their humanity simply because they have spent years in the wilderness. Obbo Awalu Abdi, mark these words—you may yet live to choke on those vile words. These are not faceless beings to be dehumanized at your whim. They are the very sons and daughters of Oromia, fighting for what they believe in, however inconvenient that truth may be for you. The insult you flung at them reveals far more about your own arrogance and moral bankruptcy than it does about them.
Forgive this necessary detour into the cesspool of Oromia’s increasingly rudeness-infested administration, but such disgraceful words cannot go unanswered. And now, back to the matter at hand—Obbo Hailu Adunya.
Civility has never harmed anyone. Respecting others—especially those with whom you disagree—is not a weakness but a sign of strength. If you act like a jackass, you forfeit the very respect you demand. And if you truly represent the Oromia government, Obbo Hailu Adunya, then you should embody safuu—the moral compass of the Oromo people, known for their patience, courtesy, and deliberative approach to discourse. Instead, your words painted a different picture—one of arrogance and recklessness.
A spokesperson represents more than just their personal temperament; they embody the administration’s face and voice. If you cannot speak without resorting to derision, then perhaps you are in the wrong position.
So, Obbo Hailu Adunya, if you have even a trace of safuu left in you, will you do the honorable thing and resign?
