The Oromia region wing of Prosperity Party (PP) has suspended Minister of Defense and former president of the Oromia Regional State, Lemma Megerssa, and two other officials from party membership, party spokesperson disclosed on Sunday.

At the end of its two-day closed meeting in Addis Ababa, the party declared that it had suspended Lemma Megerssa, Defense Minister, along with another executive committee member, Teiba Hassen, and central committee member, Milkessa Midega, alleging that “they had not fulfilled their responsibilities,” according to Oromia Broadcasting Network.

“When they are ready to carry out their duties, they could return to their former posts,” head of the region’s PP office, Fikadu Tesema, told the regional broadcasting network.

Lemma Megersa,  who was once Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s closest ally and best friend, has been credited in reforming the Oromo People’s Democratic Organisation (OPDO), one of the four parties that make up the Ethiopian Peoples Revolution Front (EPRDF) and the regional administration. However, disagreement between the two personalities arose, reportedly because of the move to merge the defunct ruling coalition, EPRDF, to one PP party. Lemma publicly expressed his disagreement with the “rushed merger of political parties.”

Consequently, he made his peace with his Abiy, agreeing “to narrow his differences and work with the Prosperity Party”. The latest move made it clear the rift between the two politicians had never healed.

Reacting to the news, the Chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), Merera Gudina said that even though the rift between the two men was well-known, the party’s latest decision will not benefit the PP.