Jonglei Government on a Conflagration
3 min readBy Malith Alier, Bor
January 23, 2015 (SSB) — After the political and military disaster of 2013, the current Jonglei Governor in the name of John Koang Nyuon was appointed acting governor for the embattled state. Mr. John Koang served as advisor to the President and also held a defence portfolio until July 2013 reshuffle.
Many observers voiced their frustration with the appointment of John as nobody deemed it appropriate considering the prior circumstances to his appointment. Even the 60 day period for organising by-election did not assist the concerned parties who were against the said appointment.
Mr. John Koang administration now experiences upheaval with a peaceful constituency of the State. There are many failures that have led to the peaceful constituency to voice their concern in a peaceful but ominous way.
Today, 22 January 2015 a group of ladies organise a mini-demonstration against what they thought are inconsistencies by John and cronies. One of their demo placards read, “John is a rebel within” among other concerns.
This author on separate occasion in the past thought that it was unfair for Jonglei State Governor to sidelined a peaceful constituency of greater Bor where the seat of State government is located. What is the use of maintaining members of a constituency that has separated from the state? The members of greater Pibor administration who seemed to be stranded are still clinging to their posts by threads.
The administration of John Koang is indeed a strange one compared to other states in this country. No other state in the country where members from a separate state become valued rulers in another State.
Other reasons why John administration is on fire concern their IDPs in UNMISS compound. It is alleged that John forwards their monthly salaries in contravention of the public service rules and regulations. Secondly, John appoints IDPs straight from the camp to the State government while laying off those who held those positions.
A case is the recent retrenchment in the State Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning where directors are replaced for the above reason. This shows that John is less in the service of those who support the government but is clearly in the service of those who opposed it in the form of those in UNMISS.
The voice of women demonstrators is fully supported against the governor by many street people who I talked to, particularly in Marol Market located a few kilometres from where demo took place. They pledged to nominate one of the ladies to become governor of Jonglei State after the departure of John Koang. Voice of women oyee he chanted.
John has lost legitimacy according to constitution along with public confidence and support as well because of being adamant in maintaining Greater Pibor officials to continue on the laurels of the state they don’t call their own.
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