He didn't have a choice, but to do so, because the sidama were not going to stop their protest movements. If he believed in it, he would have gave it to them, legally, without them having to lose so many of their people. opdo, tplf, all the same to us, abiy worked for them for years helping tplf kill and subjugate oromos; i very much doubt that he's much better than them. same system, same dictatorship alliances, etc.
we shall see, if what you say is right, but it's not looking good for his support in oromia, hence the reason why he is going after all the viable opposition to him, from OFC TO OLF.
A man confident in his ability to win free and fair elections would not do the same thing the tplf did to oromo parties in the 1990's.