Riek Machar has Distorted the Meaning of Federalism Altogether.
By Nyieth Agut-thon
January 22, 2015 (SSB) — The issue of federalism as an alternative governance system compare to decentralized structure of governance by some leaders of this country has been debated, defined and explained in much more details but still there is a stalemate in regard to this same issue.
The proponents and opponents of federal governance structures are accusing themselves thoroughly while debating the subject matter. The opponents of federalism, mostly from government’s side lay blame critically on proponents of the structures and moreover accused them of being champions and engineers of disintegration of South Sudan.
The opponents maintain that no differences between the federalism call by Riek and one call by the proponents of the federalism. The opponents also believe proponents of the system and Riek Machar are two faces of the same coin; and however, working against the unity of South Sudanese in totality. The opponents further accused proponents of being Korora executors and wish to divide South Sudan into three more countries of Equatoria, Bhar al gaz and Upper Nile, which is unwise decision according to the opponents of federalism.
On the other hand, the proponents of federalism all from Equatoria region then few from Upper Nile area put their trade accusations on opponents of federalism. The federalists charged the former of deliberate distortion of the ideology for the reason that they opponents do not want changes, but upholding of current status quo for governance. The later counter- accused the former for fearing the changes thinking that they will be victims of new system. This session of discussion come public when Riek who is on the run places federalism on the top of his agenda for negotiation in Ethiopia.
As for this author, the debate about federalism is premature because peace should always be the topic of debate in this country as mentioned by some earlier, but not governance system, then follows by reconciliation among the communities. We have already in place governance system; however, lack of peace has currently undermined its implementation. The culture of talking for tomorrow issues while failing to address today problem need to be discontinued in total. Who is going to federalize South Sudan after all when its citizens are dying in their thousand on daily basis? For this reason the author wants presence of peace and its components in place first. The federalism and other proposed systems of governance do not carry at this time Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), to wipe out proponents and opponents over night, leaving them with no time for more debate regarding the subject. For Proponents and opponents, your national duty at the moment is to call for peace and preach it to South Sudan’s communities.
What is more here is that Riek Machar has completely distorted the significant importance and benefits of federalism as system of government. Riek imitates the idea when he was in Ethiopia, and there are two reasons as to why Riek calls for the system. First and foremost, federal system is the one adopted by the Ethiopians’ government, the host country of Riek’s rebel politicians. The main reason why he identified federalism and put it on top of agenda was because Riek wanted to please the Ethiopian authorities and make them believe that the reason he took up arms against the South Sudan government was because of federalism. And that he would like two governments of Ethiopia and his presume government of South Sudan to have shared values of federalism in commonality. Since there are Nuer natives in Ethiopia, Riek would like to balance power by using his cousins in the country to fight Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA), and without a doubt Ethiopia’s Nuer are fighting alongside their South Sudanese Nuer. Riek is a controversial figure who has never been honest to the people South Sudan and government of South Sudan as well since he joined politic. The rebel leader in question is not realistic about federalism, if ask now for instant what federalism mean as type of better governance? Riek will not answer the question satisfactorily because his mind is currently being occupied by a premiership position, becoming prime Minister that is what he and others dying for.
In fact, this power hungry man is a complete failure and political deceased politician. However, any politician who is interested in joining his camp would likely become a political dead meat alike. After 1991’s split, Riek surrendered himself to Khartoum regime with majority of Nuer leaders and intellectuals because they did not know their head man very well. The leaders and intellectuals first thoughts about their man by that time were that their leader is a man of the people and he successfully led them to the promise land. At that moment, things were easier for the community compare to the bush life that they society deserted. Social services were delivered and provided in full by the centre but in the centre, nothing reached closer to the leaders’ and intellectuals’ rural communities. The leaders were employed by the central government on Riek’s request and ticket; as a result Riek’s employees felt that the reason they went to the bush was all achieved, then no need to negotiate or wrestle for the delivery of political services this might invite other problems and at the same time contradict their main aim for surrendering themselves to Khartoum. However, Riek had his own hidden agenda in contrast; that provisions of both social and political services should be provided in equal measures, why not?
He insisted but was honestly advised by his friends not to because the centre did not deliver hard power to political short-cutters. When things went into reality, Riek left Khartoum for hiding without even informing his government. This scenario disappointed Nuer Leaders and intellectuals because they felt betrayed. From that time up to date, the leaders disregarded Riek ideas because he sold them off. Interestingly, when Riek was fleeing Juba for bush last year in December 2013, those leaders whom he left with in 1991 did not go with him during the crisis knowing the lesson of those years, only new recruits went with him.
Finally, for proponents’ of federalism who are still living in South Sudan and working for South Sudan government, you need to stop calling for federalism because you are stabbing South Sudanese on the back and bloody Riek in the front joint one side and fight together with him given your common call for the same ideology.
Nyieth Agut-thon lives in Jonglei State; Contact: nyiethagutthon2014@gmail.com
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