For the record

I would like to briefly react to the accusation by Drs Belletech (Caaltu) Deressa, Bahiru Gametchu and Obbo Abraham Mosisa regarding the election of officers of OSA at the business meeting in Minneapolis this summer. While the colleagues have the right, just as other members, to raise their concerns about OSA matters, the manner of their protest and their accusation have been alarming which compel me to break my silence and state briefly my reaction regarding the election.

I was asked to preside over this election by the outgoing president just before the business meeting and I was unaware of a preplanned conspiracy. I accepted the request because I always believed in the well-being of the association. After being its member over 15 years and serving on its board as member and chair during critical years (and contributing to and helping editing its Journal for over a decade), I have learned that OSA is a precious Oromo national institution to be supported by everyone.

Even though I did not and do not belong to any of the OLF factions, I always advised counsel to members to avoid trying to subject OSA to the control of any political faction but to use it as a common institution for the benefit of the Oromo people. For instance, I strongly appealed for common sense and such distinction at the Atlanta Conference in 2004 in my key-note speech. In spite of such warnings, we have been observing this year the development of mistrust, intolerance and misunderstanding, culminating in the current attacks on personalities, decisions, programs, and the election of officers.

The election of officers is called illegal, undemocratic and disorderly and chaotic tantamount to street mob behaviour. Well, none of these allegations is quite true. Just as in previous years, an election committee of which I was the coordinator was asked to conduct the election according to past traditions and procedures. Just as nominations began, factional tendencies and mistrust appeared reflecting the division within the OLF. Regardless of these feelings, my and the committee's task was to conduct the election process democratically and fairly. True, we were ordered to leave the Coleman Hall, by University guards who told us our permit to use the room was over. We moved outside and nomination of candidates for the different offices continued on the steps of the same building. (Reminiscent of Gada Caffe assembly!) As in the past, candidates were openly and freely nominated and democratically elected by secret ballots. The process was orderly and no member raised any protest at the time.

The elected officers

For the office of OSA President elect, Dr. Beyan Asoba was elected by an overwhelming majority of 66 votes. Dr. Bahiru Gametchu's nominee, Dr. Bichaka Fayissa came second with 23 votes. Dr. Bahiru Dhuguma came last. Similarly, Dr. Ezekiel Gabissa was elected editor of JOS while Dr. Melaku Mekonnen was elected Secretary of OSA. Dr. Belletech (Caaltu) Deressa was nominated for Treasurer by Adde Caaltu Yohannes but Dr Belletech had walked away with Dr. Bahiru Gametchu in the middle of the election. Adde Tsehay Silga was elected Treasurer instead.

Finally, three members to the Board of Directors were elected. They were:

Dr. Asfaw Beyene
Dr. Gudata Hinka
Dr. Mesfin Abdi

As coordinator of the election of the officers, I would like to conclude that the above officers were elected democratically, openly and orderly and legally in accordance to the association's by-laws. My humble and sincere advice to all members of OSA including Obbo Abraham and Drs. Bahiru and Belletech (Caaltu) is to refrain from over zealous, destructive and divisive campaign which would kill the only successfully operating pan-Oromo institution we currently have. Survival of this organiztion is more valuable than the temporary partisan victory people may strive to score.

Baissa Lemmu (Ph. D.)