My Take on the Current Decree of 28 states in South Sudan
5 min readBy Matiop Maker Ariik
October 7, 2015 (SSB) — With the current war situation, I think it would have been better if president Kiir would have just divide only the Upper Nile Region into Administrative Areas as he did and leave the other regions intact as states for a three-year period. If it works well, then a full referendum can be conducted to have 28 states.
For budgeting, the Administrative Areas can receive smaller budget than the one allocated to the states in the Equatoria and Bar el Gazal regions.
For my own state of Jonglei, people have gone ballistics in selecting the would-be governor (Bor, Twi East and Duk). I have seen people recommending Deng Dau, Maker Thiong, Mayen Ngor…
We need to consult our conscious here and be honest, sincere and truthful. If we cannot be honest, sincere and truthful, we will not see development, prosperity but more hatred and division. South Sudan is in chaos with massive corrupt because people are not honest and truthful. People are murdered in cold blood and the murderers are rewarded with position. Officials embezzle public funds in daylight and they are rewarded with more high positions.
Rebellions are getting rewards after destroying life and properties. If this does not end, we will not see prosperity but more hatred. People are standing behind their kin and love ones even if their kin are wrong and that will build more hatred among us and will not improve diversity in South Sudan.
We think that it is Twi East turn for governorship since Thon Leek was from Duk County and Kuol Manyang was from Bor county and that is the only thing in our minds. But let us think twice because this is the same cycle of rewarding wrongdoers and standing behind them even if they are wrong.
Twi East County are with Riek Machar rebels as we stand and we have seen it. Even if they have not taken guns and shot at the government, they are with the rebels. Nyandeng and Majak Agoot are with Riek. Those that claimed to be the faith base group and women group who are the signatories to that imposed compromise are all from Twi east and were hand selected by Nyandeng.
Why did they join Riek in the first place, because there was no one nominated to the national government from Twi east and both Kuol Manyang and Makuei Lueth are both from Bor County. Why… “Jealousy.” Giving them governorship in the newly created Jonglei is rewarding them for rebelling and joining Riek and we all know who Riek Machar is.
Deng Dau is a great leader and I support him 100 percent but giving him governorship of Jonglei is rewarding Twi East so they can come and join the government.
This is the time the three counties of Bor, Twi and Duk need to have serious discussions about their relationship because this is not the first time people from Twi East took a different position when one of their own is not in the top leadership position but from Bor County. If the unity is not supported by all, then we can live side by side as different communities in the state.
We all know how the name “Bor” has become now, but No one is forcing anyone to change his community name nor does any community force his own community name on to others. This issues need to be settled and we must be honest with each other.
The governor of the newly created state of Jonglei MUST come from either Bor County or Duk County and not from Twi East, unless elected by the people will he be from Twi East.
We need to put people at right places and not put them at wrong places because we like them so much.
Deng Dau and Maker Thiong are the voices of the three counties in the national parliament and that is the right place they should be. If we move them out of the national parliament, who is going to represent the three counties because I don’t see and heard any other member of the parliament from our three counties speaking up loud enough.
Makuei Lueth is the representative of my own constituency but since he was elected, he was appointed to a ministerial position and we all know how busy he is with the national government. I think both Deng Dau and Maker Thiong are great at their current positions.
My recommendation for governorship is how I think of leadership. “Leadership is action not position.” Donald McGannon. We need someone that does not put his own interest first but the interest of the people. Someone that can make bold decisions and take unilateral actions without fear of being a political appointee.
My list will include Deng Kelei, Mayen Ngor, Maker Lual Kuol, Mamer Ruk, Deng Mabior Deng… it is time we put young generations to govern.
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