When a few certified tribalists like Jawar Mohammed and aiga forum got a kick out of Rene Leffort’s latest piece, I thought Leffort must have given them a much-needed tribal manifesto or something like that. I got into the piece and I wasn’t mistaken.
Here are a few takes from this extremely biased, factually-poor blabber of an article.Leffort takes the liberty to accuse Abiy of trying to de-institutionalize his rule. What we know is Abiy was elected through the formal EPRDF procedure.
TPLF launched a personal campaign against Abiy even before he was elected. Leffort could easily have learned from Haile Mariam Desalegne how TPLF had sabotaged any real reforms occurring.Abiy's reforms were unthinkable if TPLF had been in charge.
Leffort went on to throw the “big man syndrome” criticism at Abiy alleging he preferred a presidential system for the country. Well, it might come as news to Leffort but a 27-year parliamentary rule by the TPLF gave Ethiopians a big man, perhaps more fittingly a big tyrant.
Speed doesn’t bode well for Leffort denouncing Abiy for doing so many things in such a short time. If only Abiy waited a while to invite the opposition in; if only Abiy slowed a peace process with Eritrea;etc .Here Leffort commits hindsight bias big time.
Leffort lamented that Abiy was too cruel on the TPLF: how? By trying to reach out to Ginbot 7 and those who regret the passing of derg. Note here Leffort avoids mentioning any ethnic-based group.Well, if Ginbot 7 is the antidote for the TPLF, Abiy actually deserves a medal.
For a self-made analyst on Ethiopian affairs, Leffort’s diagnosis and prescriptions lack credibility. Six months ago he ordered us to do an election asap only to change his mind now. Who knows what Leffort comes up with next? A case of histrionic personality disorder perhaps?
Leffort made preposterous claim that nobody challenges federalism and the likes of G7 do not have big constituencies:a kind of fatal miscalculation which Meles did vis-à-vis CUD during the 2005 election.He conjures up a federalist/confederalist nonsense for the tribalist mindset.
But, the most revolting part is his thinly-veiled hatred of Amharas. As if three decades of TPLF persecution of Amharas isn’t enough, Leffort calls on the ODP and the TPLF to gang-up on Amharas claiming that Amharas pose threats to both.
This way Leffort closes ranks not only with the TPLF but with fascist Italy of the early 20th century.Consistency is a hallmark of intellectual maturity.Unfortunately, all Leffort keeps doing is committing intellectual prostitution. #Ethiopia
