Universities should be places of brainstorming, not political bickering

unicef photo

By

Alem Hailu G/Kristos

Gathering from every corner of the country and showcasing an ethnic and religious mix, university students conflate in a wide range of higher learning institutions that dot the map of the country.

As Ethiopia stands out when it comes to unity in diversity and peaceful coexistence, these universities that mirror the aforementioned virtues are seen as a model of Ethiopia.

As much as the societal-challenge-troubleshooting solutions these universities come up with have an antidote effect, troubles hatched in these universities could have a domino effect across the nation. Unless nipped in the bud, the latter could spread like a wildfire pushing the nation to the brink of catastrophe.

That is why using universities as entry points, the wicked, who sniff for to-dos, try to thwart the fabric of unity and peace, which cobbled Ethiopians together. Lavishly outlaying money amassed by corrupt ways, the diabolic hire trojan horses, laden with their poisonous strategies, to insinuate ideas that trigger conflicts.

Displaced from their pedestal of leeching the country with impunity and exercising power to intimidate citizens with unheard of atrocities, the wicked cannot gain a stable state of mind until they see their safe haven is returned. By fair means or foul they want to put logjams before the vehicles of change. They make a frantic bid to belittle the u-turn actualizing before their very eyes.

The mess the impish created in some universities lately is ascribable to such satanic motives. Spilling the blood of the innocent and hearing the cries of grief smote mothers could serve no purpose other than lending the sadist joy.

It is to denounce groundless bloodshed and bickering in universities that some organized mothers headed to different states to beseech students not to be entrapped in such baits being set by the irresponsible. Such a thing was not there in our culture nor must it be allowed to put roots.

Against this backdrop, university students must be farsighted not to entertain agendas set by others. The saying also goes ‘forewarned is forearmed’. As successors of the nation, university students must mainly focus on expanding the frontier of their knowledge and the horizon of their thinking. They must be farsighted to evade the booby traps. As standard-bearers they must set exemplary behavior to youngsters in high school and elementary schools. Higher learning institutions must be places of brainstorming on a wide range of issues and public lectures that help to turnaround the life of citizens.

State governments on their part have to take under their wings students assigned in universities found in their respective enclosures.

In this era of media convergence and technological advancement, dishing out unfounded stories is possible. Also using this Pandora box like situation, agitating one group to stand against another is possible. Students have to be conscious of what they read and listen to from social media. They have to be responsible regarding what they post on such media outlets. They must not be devoid of sympathy and empathy. Moral obligation has to be there.

The government must also find ways of controlling social media fomenting crisis here and there to the delight of those fishing in troubled water. There is also a need to weed out infiltrators the displeased get into universities to mar the teaching learning process.

The disruption of lessons in universities, besides affecting the teaching learning process of the country, also inflicts financial crisis on universities injected with money deducted from the meager resources of the country.

The countdown to the day we mark Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples day is fast approaching. Such days must serve as occasions to reiterate our commitment to cement our unity, while also appreciating our diversity.

The bottom line is that every citizen has to put down one’s foot on any motive to derail the change and the sentiment of accretion. It certainly is good to try to nurture these virtues at formative years, true to the saying “The child is the father of the man.”

Alem Hailu G/Kristos

A published poet, novelist, editor, translator of masterpieces, literary critic, playwright and journalist from Ethiopia. M.A holder in literature, Addis Ababa University.

Looking for a traditional publisher of a collection of poems. My novel: ‘Hope from the debris of hopelessness’.