Looking Beyond Kiir’s Presidency: Can Mr Wani Igga be the Next President of South Sudan?
5 min readBy Juach Garang Bul (Perth, Australia)
Politic is an individual egoism in which one would not favour other politicians all the times without considering their interest. Political insensitivity is one of the fundamental segments in politics that many political players should comprehend particular our new political students in SPLM. Politic is an interest and who is that going to do one man interest and abscond their interest. However being a deputy president is splendid position. Why not concoct a political shape that would constitute you to becoming a head of state rather than doing one man interest on your behaviour.
Can Deputy President Igga challenge Mr Kiir for the top job? The current political circumstance in South Sudan is uncertain. The relationship between Mr Igga and Mr Kiir is very murky. It seems similar political wrangling that occurred between Dr Riek and the president in regard to dealing with country affairs may happen again. The former Deputy President Dr Riek Machar found difficulties in implementing the policies of combating pervasive corruption and tribalism in the country.
Since Mr Kiir came to power there was one achievement which is the securing of the referendum to South Sudanese. This referendum yield the Republic of South Sudan which was hijacked from the people through the epidemic corruption by the so called “SPLM elites”. The president delivered nothing when it comes to provision of basic services to Southerners. As the country get closer to 2015 will Mr Igga stands up like his predecessor Dr Riek Machar. The misunderstanding started when Mr Igga announced publicly at the UN general assembly that “the election will definitely take place on 2015”. While the president announced that “election will take place in 2017 because the census of South Sudan need to occur in 2015 first”. This contradiction mean these “elites have no understanding and team work spirit. For President Kiir this lack of loyalty by Mr Igga is serious and could let to potential dismissal from the office in future if it occurs again.
Take this political interest seriously for instance President Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987. Mr Sankara was snuff by his Vice President who is the incumbent president of Burkina Faso now. Mr Sankara was a charismatic and revolutionary leader who liberated his country from outside invasion. If Mr Kiir is not careful the same will happen to him. Similar case scenario occurred in Liberia during Mr Samuel Kanyon Doe regime, his main political foe Mr Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor sacked from his position due to is political downplay. Mr Taylor dismissal resulted in what become known as “The First Liberation Civil War in Liberia”. After the struggle Mr Taylor became president of Liberia and achieved his own political egoism. Therefore Mr Igga will one day be a president not as deputy president for long. Mr Kiir has created a lot of political enemies and they were happy to force him out peaceful or through the used of force if necessary. The recent political scandal transpired in Australia between the former Prime Minister Rudd and his deputy prime Julia Eileen Gillard who became a Prime Minster herself was another good example of political interest.
The President Kiir removed Dr Riek because he thought former president was an obstacle. But Mr Kiir replace Dr Riek with Mr Igga who is a chameleon ready to strike if the circumstance is appropriate. Mr Igga already started by contradicting the president and the next moved will be publicly declaring his intention to be the boss in 2015. This means Deputy President Igga will not be interested to articulate his own political interests but aiming for the top job. Mr Kiir needs to be careful because Mr Igga is well suited to be president of South Sudan. If Igga gets the opportunity for top job he will take it without hesitation. The big fish is not Dr Riek but Mr Igga because as a chameleon his calcution is one hundred percent correct. Mr Kiir needs to grow eyes on his rear head or one day he will wake up in the dust bin.
Politicians are like chameleon they could alter their natures any time base on the appropriate environment. Some political players cloud smile at you when doing wrong but support you to persistent because they yarn to see you being blame and fail. If this is the path Mr Igga follow then there going to be another problem with Kiir administration. Mr Igga is different from Dr Riek because he’ constantly smile this made it difficult to know his intention.
What does it mean if Mr Igga accepts mistakes made by his boss? The Deputy President is ready to wear sheep cloth while inside he is a wolf ready to strike at any possible opportunity. The deputy president is not far away from achieving his ultimate goal of becoming the president of South Sudan. The author is deeply fretting of new political relations between Mr Igga and his boss.
President Kiir assumed that Mr Igga is close comradeship to him and he would not attempt to betray him or the government. There is no permanent friend and permanent enemy in politics. It is a wise move to pardon Dr Lam Akol and make him a closer friend. The president is a sheep wearing wolf cloth while the real wolf pretend to a sheep. If the president does not change his attitude one day the wolves will take their clothes out and attack the sheep. The wolves and sheep can not dwelled in harmony because they need nutrition.
Juach Garang Bul is a concerned South Sudanese living in Perth, Western Australia (Australia). He can be reached at his personal email for any inquiry at juach111@hotmail.com
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