POWER TO THE PEOPLE
By G. Naih Peter
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Power to the people is a cultural expression and political slogan that
has been used in a wide variety of contexts, maybe even in our various
local dialects and jargons.
–
In political perspective and in history, during the 1960s in United
States, young people began speaking and writing this phrase as a form
of rebellion against what they perceived as the oppression by the
older generation, especially The Establishment. The Black Panthers
used the slogan “All power to the people” to protest the rich, ruling
class domination of society. Pro-democracy students also used it to
protest America’s military campaign in Vietnam.
–
In mid-1980s, “The People Power Movement” arose in the Philippines to
oust Ferdinand Marcos. According to Nickol, Dick (2008) the phrase has
been used in regard to energy policy in late 20th and early 21st
century.
In addition to that, the South African “Amandla Ngawetu” or “Amandla
Awethu” is also a popular variation of the power to the people. It
literally means “The power is ours” but is used in a similar way as
“power to the people”. It is often used in a call and response format,
with the speaker shouting “Amandla” and the crowd replying “Awethu”.
–
However, in our South Sudan context today, the slogan has been
applauded by many citizens as the President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit
has announced the greatest ground breaking order by increasing the
number of states to twenty eight (28). This simply to me is a seal of
a covenant between the government and its people for the approval of
the slogan of power to the people.
–
Now the citizens who had believed that there were no jobs have to
challenge themselves and seek for more employment opportunities to be
brought along by the federation to be. More over, the political elites
who had hold grudges amongst themselves have to start lobbying or via
osmosis campaign or whatever name you call it, in order to get their
so called political conducive seats in the new governors to-be
vacancies.
–
Apparently, there are friends and fellow citizens who think that the
idea which led to the presidential order was a copy and paste practice
from Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhuorgon to bring up federalism, must know
that is a lie in broad daylight. It was no South Sudanese idea but the
British’s idea in early pre-colonial period when the then Southern
region was having 21 districts. So it doesn’t matter to a grassroots
citizens like me; who cry for it and who approved it.
–
On the contrary, nothing comes at ease and you must all know that
every new step stepped upon comes with its pros and cons. so we must
run hither and thither in search of solution to the uncertainties.
What am I saying? I am trying to tell you that there are challenges
ahead in this public order by the president. Forget not that every
situation is a two-sided coin. There are challenges that comes to my
mind when it comes to implementation especially on the verification of
the borders. I believe the government will unanimously approve to use
the 1956 borders as the guide to mark again the inter and intra
States’ borders which ‘am sure will ignite more tribal border
conflicts if not at all war.
–
Take a situation that the 1956 border guide map tells that Bor County
(Jonglei state) border is near Mangalla payam (Central Equatoria
state); where will Mundari of Gemeza go to? Will they accept to cross
River Nile and go back to Tali? This also apply to other counties and
States. These are some of the questions of monologue that keeps
flowing and echoing in my eardrum from the back of my mind.
–
Nevertheless, in my own opinion with no doubt the President has issued
the order of the year which I hope will change the political status of
our young nation and will never be the same again if handle very well.
–
Finally, the nation has to stand firm together with our government as
we wait to see and feel the impacts of these 28 states; be it
politically, economically, socially or perhaps in term of employment
and development in line with government priorities.
–
Naih ©2015
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The author of this article is a student of Upper Nile University (UNU)
in Faculty of Agriculture.
Contact him via: naihegarang@gmail.com
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