Abadula Gemeda a patron of OPDO's 'new bloods' including Abiy Shimelis and Lemma Megersa who still wields significant influence without holding an official position Girma Birru Abiy's Macroeconomic Adviser former OPDO former EPRDF era Minister of Industry and former Ambassador to the United States Debele Kabeta powerful Customs Commissioner who worked in national intelligence with Abiy Tamirat Haile Addis-born Oromo historian with PhD in charge of Abiy's park development projects in Addis Ababa Influential Amhara figures: Temesgen Tiruneh an ardent Abiy loyalist and his longtime colleague in the military intelligence unit INSA and from November 2020 until February this year he headed NISS...
What he labelled as the 'Oromo Shene' is he claimed led by Lemma Megersa a former ally and Oromia president who is currently in exile (AC Vol 61 No 2 Regime reality check)...
Abiy detained many of his Oromo critics including opposition leaders Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba and placed former Defence Minister Lemma Megersa under house arrest earlier in the year (AC Vol 61 No 2 Regime reality check)...
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Rift allyWhile it was expected that the TPLF would sit out the PP the opposition of Lemma Megersa Abiy's former closest ally was a bombshell...
Adding insult to injury the premier's sidekick in Oromia's ruling party regional president Lemma Megersa then chipped in...
Although Abiy and regional President Lemma Megersa have given the ODP a major facelift many Oromos still see the OLF as the standard-bearer of the Oromos' struggle for self-determination...
That is because a more systematic investigation of abuse and graft would mean disturbing his own political home: Oromia president and Abiy's close ally Lemma Megersa used to be head of the regional security apparatus while Foreign Minister and ODP politburo member Workneh Gebeyehu is a former Federal Police Commissioner...
Abadula is cast as something of a mentor to Abiy as well as Lemma Megersa the popular Chief Administrator of Oromia who was a strong candidate for the premiership before Abiy replaced him as OPDO Chair earlier this year...
Oromo openingMany critics thought that this month's events would pave the way for an Oromo prime minister who it was assumed would be the OPDO's chair and regional president Lemma Megersa...
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Social media was shut down universities were closed and Oromia's President Lemma Megersa used the regional broadcaster to challenge the federal government over the army's actions...