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Person of the Year – nominees

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

Ethiopian Review is resuming its tradition of naming “Person of the Year” at the end of every year. The man or woman chosen as person of the year is believed to have made significant contributions for the betterment of Ethiopia in the past 12 months. Readers’ opinion is heavily weighed in making the selection, so let’s hear from you. The following are the nominees:

[In alphabetical order]

Alemayehu Gebremariam
Andargachew Tsige
Berhanu Nega
Bertukan Mideksa
Chris Smith
Daud Ibsa
Donald Payne
Ephraim Isaac
Haile Gebreselassie
Issayas Afeworki
Meseret Defar
Mesfin Woldemariam
Mohamed Omer Osman
Obang Metho

The announcement will be made on December 31, 2007.

485 thoughts on “Person of the Year – nominees”

  1. I agree with the above comment.
    Daud Ibsa is a man of integrity. He is quite different from the previous leaders of the OLF. He is not as arrogant as those of his predecessors. He is genuinely committed to seeking a comprehensive solution to all peaoples of Ethiopia and he is a type of leader that is immersed with the world of just doing the best for Oromos alone. I had a friend who was closely acquainted with Daud from their youth Student time at Wingate and then AAU. He told me that Daud (aka Firew Ibsa) had always the resolve to pursue justice for those are in need. He has an extraordinary endurance whenever he do things. Perhaps that is how he survived all the long contours of the guerilla activities of the OLF that has been conducated from Sudan starting from the 1980s. Daud also managed to escape the Derg Prison after 5 years of languishing in Maikelawi.
    I believe, this guy deserves a chance and needs to be incalcated other than portraying him and his Organization the OLF as an all time Monster. The reality on the ground is different. Let’s rationality a chance to prejudice.

  8. I like Birhanu Nega. He has done what is expected from him and he should know we will expect more from him. He has to find together with his collegues how to take our party kinijit forward. We love you Birhanu

  25. I would definately go for Issayas Afeworki.

    Reason being:

    1. He subdued Weyane by arming, training, financing all Ethiopian armed groups!

    2. He assured all Ethiopians that unlike Weyane he would work for the unity of Ethiopia!

    More to come in 2008!

  27. Remember those beautiful lines. They were a free man’s message -Dr. Berhanu Nega. They were yours.
    Of course, you did rise up for freedom with the same readiness and commitment of a soldier who was ready to sacrifice his life in a battlefield. You left your materially comfortable life to land in jail where people are treated in the most inhumane and degrading fashion. Yet even there you continue to believe in human spirit. You give love for those who couldn’t transcend hate. “It is enough,” claims J.P. Sartre, “for a man to love all other men with undivided love.” Birhanu, you are showing us how a man can give undivided love to fellow men.
    For you, politics isn’t an end. Power is just a means of achieving justice and freedom. That was why you espoused the virtue of honesty in politics. That was why, in a land where gallons of human blood was spilt as if it was expired ink, for political end, you tried to make politics civil. Imagine the brave young people you inspired to politics. Birtukan Midekesa. Muluneh Eyuel. Sileshi Tena. Yeneneh Mulat. Daniel Assefa. Imagine the number of Ethiopians like me who have vowed never to give away their freedom lying down. Imagine the number of people who are intoxicated with the spirit of Kinijit; the spirit you and fellow Kinijit leaders entrenched in the fabrics of their minds. In prison or in hospital (where you are now), such thoughts should spur you on.

  30. Dr. Berhanu Nega !

    He is a farsighted politician, an intellectual with integrity, a charismatic person, and a visionary leader who is entrusted to lead our beloved Ethiopia to a new direction.

  34. Birtukan Mideksa,
    1. For breaking the barrier on women and becoming a shining star;
    2. For her courage, contagious smile, fearlessness in giving testimony before an august assembly the US Congress;
    3. For standing up to the occasion and acting as Chairperson, when HS reneged on his role as Chairman;
    4. For her steadfastness on the rule of law;
    5. For the love and respect she showed to HS despite his abrasiveness, reviving the Ethiopian tradition of Chewanet to the Ethiopian youth and even to the older generation;
    6. For going back to Ethiopia despite threats by the killer machine that is Woyane.

    BIRTUKAN, MY BIRTUKAN, OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!

  35. Berhanu Nega is a farsighted politician, an inexhaustible intellectual, a charismatic person, and a visionary leader who is entrusted to lead our nation to a new direction, ending fifty years of dancing in a political quagmire. Unlike the “My-way or no-way” politicians of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s; Dr. Berhanu is one of the few open-minded Ethiopian politicians who not only values the idea of others, but makes the most use out of it. His charisma, his love for others, his attentiveness, sense of humor, knowledge of politics, respect to dissent, and his consummate ability to deal with people of different attitude and political interest makes Dr. Berhanu Nega the most fulfilled Ethiopian politician of all time. To many who adore him without knowing him personally, he is a rock sold refuge of hope. To his close friends, he is an inspiration and a reason for optimism. To his party colleagues, he is a motivator. To the nation, he is a true vector of change with a solid, clear-cut, and steady trajectory.

  38. I would suggest that when they go back to their country, they should give the chairman ship to BIRHANU NEGA. Because he is the person who can challenge the Melese regim intelectually and also pschologically. Moreover our country needs a person who is accountable for his action. we need to grow economically and a person who can lead us in that line is non other than BIRHANU NEGA.To have ambition for leadership is a virtue provided that you also have wisdom. Praising a person for what he has achieved gives him internal force to go ahead, it becomes a source of inspiration. Optimistic attitude towards anyperson helps you grow.there is nothing wrong in speaking good about a person. what we should feel sad is when we look the down fall of others. Suppoting a hero like Birhanu is our duty.

  41. Elias, maybe, it is good to make categorizations like “person of the year in politics” “person of the year in advocacy of human rights” something like that. Look, I have voted for ato Andargachew, but it ie really hard to put aside Prof. Al. Mariam, Dr. Berhanu Nega and Obang Metho,

  46. Dr. Berhanu Nega is my hero.He came from a wealthy family but, he didn’t care about money instead he cared about a true democracy and freedom. He is my Ethiopian Mandela. he is a very well educated man, i am proud of him.
    love you DR. Berhanu Nega!!!!!!!!!!

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