An Open Letter To Jonglei State Governor Philip Aguer Panyang
7 min readBy Jok Mayom, Juba, South Sudan
January 8, 2016 (SSB) —- First and foremost, Your Excellency Philip Aguer Panyang, allow me to congratulate you for the selection made by the people of Twic Community and Greater Bor at large not forgetting His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan for his trust bestowed upon the selection owing to your new job as Governor of new Jonglei State.
Little did the people of the Republic of South Sudan know that H.E President Kiir Mayardit was ever going to make such a decision for creating the 28 States in the Republic of South Sudan, in most needed time you finally came to what people said your once a dream.
Following the Presidential Order on October 02nd 2015 cited as “Establishment Order No. 36/2015 for the creation of 28 states” in the decentralized Governance System, you become the governor of Jonglei State under Order 4 subsection 4.23 alongside 9 governors of the Upper Nile Based which Jonglei falls in the formally regional base.
Law makers said the powers vested upon him [President Kiir], under article 101 (k) and (u) mandates the president to establish independent institutions and perform any other function as prescribed by the law. That make the order sounds paramount.
Thousands of South Sudanese in the capital Juba and across the former ten states of South Sudan joyously celebrated the Establishment Order No. 36/2015 as well as the appointment of the governors making the Christmas different from other Christmas festive celebrated in the Country.
As I begin the flow of my open letter Your Excellency, the creation of 28 States in the decentralized Republic of South Sudan will be seen as the long overdue “Implementation of Dr. John Garang Vision of taking town to the people” and therefore, concern citizens need to air their views out for that matter on how services can be reached to them this time –I mean this time – of special need.
Your Excellency, I write this letter from the deepest concern of my sole heart, how I look at the sufferings and great gaps the people of Jonglei State have had. Our people have really been behind in terms of development, no good schools, health centers, roads, amongst others which I thought it is the time for services to reach them now since the powers have been downsize from the original state size to only now three counties of Greater Bor.
My article was to get directly to the nerves of the 28 states governors but because of the saying that charity begins at home, I proudly begins here with you for I have much corners I know in Jonglei unlike other states and because you are going to be my governor.
Your Excellency, your turn is number four among those who led Jonglei State with Philip Thon Leek (2005-2010), Kuol Manyang Juuk (2010-2013) and John Kong Nyuon (2013-2015) it was good for those governors during their time but little light was seen in the far ends of Cuei-Keer to Cuei-Thon in term of services delivery though some efforts were reached.
Your Excellency, as you prepare for your next cabinet, I would like to humbly bring to your attention and stress that you change the system, by bringing in youths to work with you in your new government. Records and history speaks better about Jonglei and Greater Bor in particular, as a matter of facts, Buor are amongst those in the Country who have reach nearly the last ladder of academic and so there would be no reason of recycling the former government officials when other fresh minds with fresh ideas are abundantly in big supply.
As if it is not enough, be reminded that nearly all those who have been in the state government have perform little to the people of Greater Bor from Cuei-keer to cuei-thon being their ministers of government officials and for that matter you need to bring in new faces this time to your government whose capability shall be to develop the state and deliver services most needed.
Furthermore, from your few priorities reported as you saying, amongst them the unity of the people, state building, peace and security. These are truly what the people yearn for in this dire situation and I must appreciate and applauds you for that but be reminded my governor that for services to be delivered well it needs tough people who can be able to put them in pipeline.
Your Excellency, you may recall that the people of Greater Bor were majorly affected by the crisis of December 2013 similarly to those in Greater Upper Nile, amongst your priorities should also include the home return of the people to their original land as well as making sure the security is hundred percent maintain.
Your Excellency, many people in Awerial or Minkaman internally displaced camp (IDPs) are majorly from Bor with more others that flock to Uganda and Kenya. you have a tough challenge ahead of you that is to either make our people of Greater Bor remain in the IDPs camps and Refugees Camps or bring them back, with that it will add your weight in your leadership and you shall hold record of Greater Bor.
Your Excellency, I know your capability when you were the SPLM/A spokesperson and for that I know you will surely make all successes possible to the people of Greater Bor communities.
In expenses of getting job by opportunist, Your Excellency, be humbly reminded to take keen look on those approaching you, it’s unfortunate and of course am forced to say this that some are gossipmongers who want to be your drivers to pull you to their individual interest which will not just end there but will tear the Unity of Greater Bor. My dear governor, please set your eyes on whoever is approaching you for any position in your government.
For the old faces who are struggling to be retained in their positions, they should come out in the broad day light and speak out what they have done to the people of Bor not just for the sake of getting position and solve one stomach.
I hearsay that the states cabinet ministers will be based on the Payams; Your Excellency, should that be true I bet it will not hold water in terms of services delivery as well as the inclusivity of gender equity unless we want to encourage clanism system which will later degrade the unity of Buor.
On that note, I would kindly suggest that you appoint people on merit of qualifications and capabilities noting that they come from all parts of the Greater Bor communities from Cuei-Keer to Cuei-Thon with that, the government will be strong and service delvery government that will make its people satisfied with the needs. Success and maburuk in your new job, happy New Year 2016 and may you work to deliver services, kill clanism, nepotism and the likes.
In a nutshells, as the saying goes “new brooms sweeps better” yes others may counter react that old brooms knows all the corners, but if I may ask “What corner and what have they done in those corners they know?” hence for those who are lobbying to retain their positions it is time to ask each and everyone to give you what he or she has done in Greater Bor in the past years. Civilians with open eyes are watching and will account for those who will claim to have done enough during their time.
Long Live Unity of Greater Bor! Long Live 28 States ! Long Live South Sudan !
The writer is a South Sudanese living in Juba. He can be reached on jokpmayom@gmail.com
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