By Yohannes Gebrewold

I struggled mightily to postpone the idea of sharing some of the thoughts that have started to consume me these last few days with respect to what we all hear and read and are told about what has been happening in the CUD leadership. I decided to share a thought or two, finally.

I also struggled to make sure whether what I’ve been hearing and reading was a déjà vu experience or a reality, all the way wishing the former were true. Now I think it’s too late for my wishes to be granted. It’s a reality that we’re talking about, we’re referring to, and no longer a mirage, alas, no déjà vu, for we’re already in it. We’re in the grip of the reality about some fundamental human problems that have started to eat away the good things that we’ve seen and we’ve taken pride in in the leadership of CUD.

Like so many others I do not exactly know the details of issues that brought about what we’re now witnessing about the undeniably deep problems in the CUD leadership. It’s now time for the people of Ethiopia to be given a chance to know the truth and to stand for truth wherever that truth leads. Where is the truth about what has brought about the deep human or political or whatever problems that are slowly yet apparently effectively draining the good things that have bound up the leadership of CUD in the most trying to times? I think the people of Ethiopia, who have been behind the CUDP and its leadership, deserve to know the whole truth and nothing less than the whole truth about their leaders in such a way that let them decide, once again, who their true leaders are and who they would elect again, given a chance.

Yes, it might be prudential to deal with some sensitive issues among the CUD leadership within the CUD leadership with a hope of resolving all such issues while continuing to stand up for the principles and values for which CUD has stood up. But now is not that time for it’s become too late to take a stock of whatever issues that brought about the problems in the CUD leadership and the best way to go forward, at this moment, is to let the people of Ethiopia know what has gone wrong among them and to correct whatever has gone wrong, admit failures on personal or collective levels, and continue the journey that has barely begun. Without a totally transparent exercise of integrity and truthfulness, and, in short, without good character that shines in darkness as well as anywhere, there is no good reason to expect a rosy day to dawn in Ethiopia.

Finally, this is the litmus test for anyone in leadership position, including the CUD leaders: without consistently practicing character traits such as personal integrity, humility, truthfulness, openness, personal transparency, tolerance, etc., there won’t be a true and enduring leadership, even in the CUDP. Only persons of good character are those that can and will endure the tests and trials of being in leadership and the people of Ethiopia will have leaders in you as long as you practice such character traits. With those who consistently practice such character traits as the above there is no good reason to believe that it’s impossible to resolve whatever problems have become the reasons for the deep leadership crisis that is among the CUD leaders now. I’m not pointing my fingers at any individual in the CUD leadership to blame for whatever has come to be the problem in the CUD leadership but then truth be told that I can’t help holding the CUD leadership accountable for whatever failures in the CUD leadership that can be resolved within the CUD leadership.

I close this note with a sincere recommendation of at least one book edited by the well known writer Os Guinness titled Character Counts: Leadership Qualities in Washington, Wilberforce, Lincoln, and Solzhenitsyn (Baker Books, 1999) for all those in CUD leadership to read and reflect upon. This is among numerous good books for anyone who means to play any leadership role no matter how small or large scale it is. Even the best thing to do for the CUD delegation in the US is to set a day or two apart and meet Os Guinness or his likes, if that is at all possible, and learn from person’s of Guinness’ stature the life changing qualities of leaders. I’d be happy to provide his contact address if the CUD delegation desires so. If being Ethiopians as we are, and if one wants to dismiss my sincere suggestion by saying, “who are you to tell us…” I’d only say, yes, that is true to us and forget what I’ve just shared above and be such an Ethiopian!
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Yohannes Gebrewold can be reached at [email protected]