VP James Wani versus Dr Riek in GONU: Who will be above who?
By David Aoloch Bion
The positions of Vice President James Wani Igga and Dr. Riek Machar in the Government of National Unity (GONU) will be a test case between Equatoria and Upper Nile. VP Wani is a Bari from Equatoria. Dr. Riek is a Nuer from Upper Nile.
The Dinka people call Equatorians ‘’Door’’ or ’’ Dhong ‘’. This word loosely means a ‘’sub-human’’. The Nuer people call people from Equatoria ‘’Nyam-nyam’’. This word also loosely means ‘’somebody who bubbles or behaves like a baby ’’. In broader sense, the Nuer and the Dinka call Equatorians cowards, women and yes type of people based on their experienced in the 21 year civil war.
They say when you offence an Equatorian , he replies in Juba Arabic ‘’ mafin muskila , kalam de bi wunusu bira’’ . It means ‘’ there is no problem , this issue will be talked softly ‘’.
Last year, former VP Riek Machar was sacked. VP James Wani replaced him. Riek mobilized his Nuer tribe and fought the government under the name of SPLM/A in Opposition. Riek’s grievance over his removal is now underway being solved with or by the Government of GONU. In order to form GONU, the current government will be dissolved. And, it is rumoured that Riek Machar will be the Vice President of the Republic.
Where will James Wani go ? . To his home, because he has no White Army. If he were Governor Clement Wani Konga , he would not go home because he has Aringa Militia. If he were Governor Luis Lobong Lojore , he would not go home because he has Manyiji Militia .
What do the Equatorians do regarding Wani issue ?. They should response legally and appropriately. This is the right time, the Equatorians must tell the so-called Nuer and Dinka,
‘’ we are not Door or Dhong , or Nyam-nyam or yes people you talk about . We are not cowards or women. We are Equatorians, we are men .we are brave like you’’. This must be done by blocking President Kiir from removing James Wani as vice president’’.
There is no reason so ever that Wani should be removed from his position. What is the different between Wani and Riek who replace him ?. The different is the man is nonviolent and the man is violent. Riek is from Greater Upper Nile . Wani is from Greater Equatoria . There is no reason why South Sudan must rewrite the rules in the middle of game. The game started on July, 9 2011 and will ends in July 9 2015. Removal of Wani will make everyone to wake up whenever and wherever he likes and he wants to demand anything. Peace must accommodate the weak, the strong. Wani must above Riek. Wani the VP , Riek the PM
Secondly, If the SPLM in the Government accept Riek as Vice president. Riek chances of becoming the president by default are very high, and Riek’s presidency will be desecration to thousands of people who he killed in his war.
It can happen like this, President Kiir can die like John Garang .Riek can be the president like Kiir became after John Garang . That scenario occurred in Ghana, Ethiopia, the USA , the USSR , the presidents died and the vice presidents become the presidents. John F Kennedy died, his deputy took over. Vladmir Lenin suffered a stroke, his deputy took over . Meles Zenawi died , his deputy took over.
The SPLM in Government must create a gap between President Kiir and Riek by creating the position of the Prime Minister.
Endnote
Benito Mussolini said ‘’ it is humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history. To make a people great it is necessary to send them to battle ‘’ . You should write history by stopping the Government of South Sudan and the Rebels from removing vice president James Wani. It is humiliating for James Wani to gives up his position whenever Riek comes. This is the reason why Dr Riek be the PRIME MINISTER or 2nd Vice President of South Sudan.