South Sudan and the rising clique of pἕl aba jᴐt bἕny (leave it boss, I will carry it for you.)
By Majok Arol Dhieu, Juba, South Sudan
February 8, 2016 (SSB) — To the laypersons, this article may seem unnecessarily complex but let me first hit the point although many readers may fall out with me on this matter. My appreciation goes to those well-mannered humans who will make it to be tongue in cheek and observed the facts detailed herein. Furthermore, I caught the opportunity of writing this article by the skin of my teeth and I would probably play it rough but reassure that nothing is intended for you in particularity.
The target is the Eastern Lakes State but the others are welcome to compare our situation with theirs. You may comments whether rudely or politely but the reality is that we MUST accept our weaknesses in order to move forward with clear minds that will produce a good future for our next generations. The general problem with all social media users is the language problem, as most of you are lacking enough polite language and are not politically oriented and therefore are left with option other than fuck you, son of a bitch, etc.
Therefore, I will divide my article with the title above into three parts. First, I will talk briefly about leaders, the past leaders and the would-be leaders. I will also talk about pἕl aba jᴐt bἕny (please see the subject headline for translation) whom I will call an apron string supporters, and lastly the independence supporters who support candidates because of their strengths and capabilities.
- Our so-called Leaders
Leadership in the Wikipedia definition is both a research area and a practical skill, regarding the ability of an individual or organization to “lead” or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. Base on that definition, it fit all people regardless of a pretext statement always made by elders that young are not having experiences and therefore shouldn’t be given chances to govern populace.
The really facts blanketed in that pretext surely means that elders have responsibilities whereas young do not have. Let me make it clearly that what an elder can do, the younger must do it also. Assume if all elders die for instance today, would young people failed to confront the situation and move on? I hope you have seen and witnessed this in some natural & man-made disasters where young people were left alone as orphans and are still moving on today.
If elders need to be leaders because they have responsibilities at home, then we are leading nowhere and our targets are simply to feed ourselves and families with national resources which will not make us settle whatsoever. This is seen in the national government in 2013 where all government officials were hovering over resources trading accusations by pointing fingers at each other that Mr. so and so has failed the state whereas in fact they were all there in various positions and couldn’t said it when they were still active.
As for that reason, it’s better that our candidates need a proper review which should involve the past records of their strengths and capabilities. The other major character for a candidate at whatever level of leadership regardless of being old or young is that the candidate must come up with a list of target issues that he/she will do if given a chance so that the community can possibly evaluate his/her work after every three months.
However, not every person in leadership is strong but there some areas considered base on environmental view. The general principle for a person in life is, you can be weak in some areas and strong in some other areas. For instance, insecurity nowadays is the top issue for all South Sudanese whether in leadership or outside it. There are those who are very strong in controlling security situation both internally and externally.
Those people may perhaps be weak in development but the insecurity at the moment is an itch in the middle of South Sudanese back and couldn’t be scratch easily. If the leader is strong to control the security, fine the development then need everyone participations even individual construction means development provide that the person may not worried about his construction materials movement.
The simple issue bothering us all in the country is that we fail always to evaluate the weaknesses and strengths of the would-be leaders. If a person fails to control the situation of his own house, how would such a person govern the multitude? This MUST goes with the demanding on the ground if that particular area require somebody who is strong in security issues, then we have to bring somebody who is strong in security regardless of which payam he may come from, but if the situation on the ground need somebody who is strong in development, the situation need to be address accordingly. Why are we messing up always in selection?
Our candidates’ selection criteria in the western bank of the White Nile here, is not resemble with those of Eastern Bank of the White Nile. After the tenure of the incumbent leader, the next leader name will be display within a short period because of being already on the list. They are smartest people than us in selection of candidates.
- Apron string Supporters & Candidate:
Apron string supporters always support candidates because of being one of their relatives or they are promised to be appointed into some positions when they secure victory which is not very genuine. This must be null and void very soon as it will lead us nowhere if we always work on interests. In politics, flexibility must be there if your interests are not met, you must wait for next opportunity but South Sudanese turn enemies in that case.
It’s also important that young people should not allow themselves to live an apron string life as this could not give them a chance to air out their thoughts independently. I was at home some few days back in December 2015 and was almost fed up when I saw many supporters’ toing and froing from payam to payam and back to town tooting their own horns supporting candidates of their choice on the basis of relationships, friendships, tribes, etc. and not because of candidate’s capabilities and strengths.
It is ridiculously implausible for young people to be influences by politician who for some reasons better known to them challenging youth in return. I know for sure that some of the youths have been taken under politicians wings for good time and would fear of being cast out of houses should they dare to question their godfathers. To make truthfulness of this paragraph unquestionable, the supporters don’t details thoroughly the reasons why they are supporting candidates. Then what came into one’s mind must be the reason of interests only because there is nothing else to prove their decision.
Finally on this, the politic itself is a new program for all South Sudanese. It is taken in a tribal line especially in the areas inhabited by Dinka which is too tough for some of them to play it in the international point of view. In other countries, a son and his father may have different political view despite their biological ties, still they would play it in a way that will make them come home and dine together not like the politics of South Sudanese where duo competing for one post cast evil glance on each other and do not want to greet themselves which in turn will divide their supporters too.
Which type of politics is this? Anyway, South Sudan has just emerged out of civil war which I assume the people mind has been affected with politics that are likely mixed up with jungle law that always base on threats and intimidations. The majority of politicians have even opted for wrong perception that a magician may perform his spiritual powers in order to confuse the population to vote for him/her.
The evidence to this fact, is that why do you see bäny biith (spear masters) in Juba and at every candidate’s residential area. What is their role there? It is simply to bewitch the other candidate to fall into a problem or not to be selected as a leader by the last authority.
- Independence supporters
These are working class and other independent people who do things independently. They are less care but there major interest is to select someone who will govern them base on the rule of law. However, there is also a little interest being played by this group regardless of their in-dependency.
The richest do vote for the candidate of their choice because of their target issues to be solved. In this concept, both a leader and his supporters may fall out soon after some few days and this is where a great confusion starts from.
The safe class is the working class NOT in business companies but with International NGOs whose mandates is only peace to prevail in the country. They are only people that need South Sudan to settle so that one’s may do his/her own business with free movement.
The writer is a concern citizen of South Sudan and can be reached at majongaroldit@gmail.com.
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