The Equatoria Consultative Conference, Nyakuron Cultural Center, Juba, South Sudan.
11 min readSpeech of H. E. Louis Lobong Lojore at the Equatoria Consultative Conference
H. E. Louis Lobong Lojore
Governor of Eastern Equatoria State
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN
EASTERN EQUATORIA STATE
REMARKS OF THE GOVERNOR OF EASTERN EQUATORIA STATE
H. E. LOUIS LOBONG LOJORE
DURING THE EQUATORIA CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE, 2013
CENTRAL EQUATORIA STATE, JUBA,
MAY 9 – 10, 2013.
I extent my warmest greetings to you all the delegates from the three States of Equatoria to this Equatoria Consultative Conference 2013. May I salute our President H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit for his able and wise leadership, Vice President H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny and the Rt. Honourable Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly, Hon. James Wani Igga. As we converge here today in the spirit of building a cohesive nation, the Republic of South Sudan, we should vividly remember that our people depend on us for guidance on a brighter future for the next generation to come. It is therefore important we together work tirelessly with one spirit of nationhood in addressing some of their expectations and challenges facing us as a nation.
Ladies and Gentlemen
We the three Governors of Equatoria States had met and realized that there is need for us to come together as Equatoria to share our common issues that concern us as the people of this new Republic of South Sudan. That is precisely why we are here today. Most of us have been hearing the political developments, how they are taking shape in our Country and how they can divert our Government efforts on attending to the priorities such as security, physical infrastructure, fighting against corruption, hunger and nation building.
What is going on in our country is not based on our democratic values rather it is power struggle that will victimize the people of South Sudan and in particular Equatorians as was the case during the history of the previous years of the movements. We cannot allow this happen again under our watch. It is based on these that we have call you to share these concerns so as to make a decision about it. We respect each and everyone’s aspirations for leadership at the different capacities of leadership of our Country. All those who had expressed their aspirations for the top leadership of our beloved Country are our leaders and we respect them. They had contributed differently to the independence and still on the march towards the millennium development goal of this Country. We need to encourage our leaders to work towards the spirits of legendry and legacy.
However, one question we should ask ourselves is; is this the right way or right time to talk about elections when the time for it is still very far and we still have urgent priorities? The history of our movements tells a lot. Sometimes the right time for us as individuals, is not the right time for us as a nation or as a party.
Also we seem not to understand and respect democracy. Sometimes we use tribal arithmetic or military might. As Equatorians, we cannot allow ourselves to be driven by politics which is base on individual interests or tribal lines. The Republic of South Sudan is greater than any individual or tribe. This is the time for us to move together and not as individuals to build a peaceful democratic nation where all of us have equal rights.
My fellow Equatorians
A head of us are more important national issues that we have to address as a Country. The constitution making process of our national constitution that will replace the South Sudan Transitional Constitution, 2011 is yet to be completed and its final product subjected into referendum for the people of South Sudan to bless or reject it. Let us work to ensure that we get a constitution that reflects the views of the people of South Sudan (inclusive) and the national interest regardless of our ethnicity. We also want census to be done to determine our national population of the Republic of South Sudan, demarcation for geographical constituencies, establish elections bodies at all levels and have electoral laws in place.
To my fellow Comrades in the SPLM party, the party documents have not been passed by the designated party organs. It is my conviction that, after putting all these legal documents in place, we shall then have the legal frame to express our different ambitions with sobriety within the legal framework of the law and not in chaotic manner.
Currently we have an elected government at the national and States levels which need to be supported to peacefully fulfill their term of office. We cannot be diverted by the power struggle within our Leadership of the SPLM party, the party that struggled for the liberation that brought about the independence of this Country. If you struggle on power within the same ruling party, how will you answer the question such as; what have you done when you were in the government? Are you holding all that you could have done now for only when you get to the top leadership?
My humble appeal to you is that; let us all pull together in the same direction in building our Country. I believe it is our collective responsibility to continue providing basic services such as better healthcare, quality education for our children, good infrastructure, ensure food security and above all peace and stability in our Country. Let us focus in addressing the need of the people until when the time comes for campaigns.
Fellow Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen
May I take you back to the Resolutions of Equatoria Conference, 2011. In that Conference, we Equatorians did vow that Equatoria Land will never be used for any bloodshed against the people of South Sudan by the enemies of peace.
The Resolutions were an attempt to contribute toward greater freedom, peace and security, democratic governance, social justice, economic growth and development, stability and friendship with the States and the Countries which are neighboring our Country the Republic of South Sudan. They were the milestones set for Equatoria to move on the path of peace for nation building in the post-independence period.
With these few remarks, I again urge you not to be diverted in addressing national priority issues and to continue supporting your legitimate President and his government both at the national and States levels which you voted into office in the 2010 democratic General Elections. Our democracy and freedom of expression cannot be driven by the past history of differences, subdivisions, emotions and anger. It is only through a peaceful national democratic process we can show to the world that we are mature, civilize, responsible and democratic nation. Above all let us reject in totality all those who are taking arms as a means to ascend to power and any attempt of dividing Equatoria so that we always become co-opted in decision making of our nation, a nation which we all fought for.
I kindly encourage you to freely share and deliberate on issues that can bring peace and prosperity for this nation.
May God bless the people of South Sudan;
May God bless the people of Equatoria;
May God bless the President of South Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Louis Lobong Lojore,
Governor,
Eastern Equatoria State.
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Response from Dr. Lam Akol, the chairperson of the SPLM-DC, South Sudan Official Opposition Party
One is grateful to some members of this forum who posted the speeches of the three governors of Equatoria states in their consultative conference convened yesterday at Nyakuron, Juba. Although their speeches are couched with concerns for Equatoria, there is no doubt that the purpose of the conference was for the three Governors to pledge their allegiance to the President in the forthcoming contest for the Chairmanship of the SPLM in its forthcoming convention due this year. The clearest statement on the issue came from the Governor of Central Equatoria when he said: “the Equatoria Consultative Conference is called upon to contribute ideas towards resolving the current political stalemate [power struggle] in the country exhaustively and recommend possible remedies”. Needless to say, it is absolutely their right to do so whether out of conviction or fear of the sword of Damocles embedded in the Transitional Constitution (is it Article 101(r)?). However, is it realistic to expect Equatoria to have a unified position on the leadership contest in the SPLM?
One had all along assumed that the Equatoria Conference was a conference for all Equatorians regardless of their political affiliations. Why is it that the Governors take it for granted that it was a conference of Equtorian members of the SPLM. Otherwise, why should it be convened to discuss matters of the SPLM, however grave they might be? The right forums to discuss SPLM issues are within SPLM organs whether at the national or the State levels. Therefore, the Equatoria Conference should not be concerned with this matter except in as much as it impinges on the state of affairs in Equatoria, something the Governors have failed to show.
It is strange that the argument being put forward by the Governors is that “this is not the time to declare intentions for the SPLM Chairmanship” yet in the same breath they state that the SPLM Convention will be held this year!!! There is no time limit for declaring intentions to hold party or public positions. In the USA, for instance, aspiring candidates for the Presidency declare their intentions years prior to the primary and presidential elections. In the case of the SPLM, according to its constitution passed in 2008, the next convention must be held this month, because the convention is to be held every five (5) years and the last one was in April/May 2008. This is what the SPLM constitution says and only the convention may amend it. Hence, is it too early for the aspirants to declare their intentions two months before the convention?
It is interesting that the Governor of Central Equatoria poses a question as to why Equatorians were being courted to be running mates rather than being Presidential candidates. To run for President on the SPLM ticket, the prospective candidate needs to run and be elected SPLM Chairman first. This by itself implies that Equatorians have the right to put their names forward for the Chairmanship of the SPLM. What is the fuss, then, about?
In the first place, is it true that there is a “political stalemate in the country” because of the power struggle for SPLM leadership?
One’s answer to this question is in the negative. If the SPLM is a democratic party its leaders must respect and be abided by its constitution. The SPLM constitution states, among other matters, that the National Convention is the supreme organ of the party that adopts the constitution and other party basic documents, that the convention elects the party Chairman and organs, that the convention is held every five years (the next is due this month), that any member of the convention is entitled to contest for any elective office in the party including the Chairman. In this context, the suggested amendments to the constitution do not need an extraordinary convention to pass them but are part and parcel of the business of the ordinary convention, especially that it is due. Of course, these are affairs of the SPLM but the documents are public, hence every citizen is entitled to interpret them.
To be specific what has raised the temperature within the SPLM was the declaration of the Vice President of the Republic and Deputy Chairman of the SPLM some time back of his intention to vie for the position of SPLM Chairman. This author commented on this matter then. My position was and still remains that it was the democratic right of the Vice President as a member of SPLM convention to seek election to the position of the party Chairman. However, if that be his decision, it was politically and morally wrong for him to continue as Vice President to the person he wants to replace. Hence he must resign his position as the Vice President so as to be able to mount his challenge with a clear conscience. The reason for this position is simple. First, the only duty of the Vice President, apart from acting in the President’s absence, is to help the President in the discharge of his duties. Therefore, he must enjoy the confidence of the President to carry out this duty. This trust cannot be guaranteed when the Vice President is seeking the same position. Second, the Vice President, being part of the Presidency and government, must publicly defend the government’s policies. If the Vice President is vying for the office of President he is bound to criticize these policies, otherwise he will have no justification to run. Other reasons could be added but these two are enough for the purposes of this comment.
As things turned out, the Vice President continued with his challenge without submitting his resignation. The reaction of the President should have been to relieve him of office, which is within his power in accordance with the provisions of Article 104(2) of the Transitional Constitution. Instead, he issued a decree “withdrawing delegated powers” whatever that means. This begs the question: if these powers were withdrawn because of lack of trust, the lack of trust dictates replacing him with somebody enjoying the confidence of the President! Another pertinent question people were asking was: was there a decree announced publicly when those powers were delegated? If not, why now? Whatever explanations that were advanced later to justify the issuance of the decree were unconvincing to say the least. This was the source of the confusion, and one believes the dust has now settled. Yet, the issue of the race for the chairmanship of the SPLM, which caused the stir, is still open. This will test the democratic credentials of the SPLM to the limit. Let us hope that all contenders would follow peaceful and democratic means. We care because we want democracy to flourish in South Sudan and the necessary condition for this to happen is to have political parties that espouse internal democracy.
As to the current Equatoria Conference one hopes to hear about their evaluation of the implementation of their previous resolutions, especially those made last February. Anything else must be considered diversionary.
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