Governor Akec Tong Privatized PUBLIC OFFICES in Tonj State
6 min readOpen Letter To: His Excellency President of Republic of South Sudan
Ref: Governor Akec Tong Privatized PUBLIC OFFICES in Tonj State
By Daniel Madit Akoc Marial
February 18, 2016 (SSB) — We would like to thank President Salva Kiir Mayardit for creating 28 states, especially, for making Tonj a state. If we recall, on 2nd October 2015, the President said that he made his decision to create 28 states because he wanted the power and services to be closer to the people a message that was received overwhelmingly by the local population and the intellectuals.
We also want to thank him for trusting Governor Akec Tong Aleu with the position of governorship for Tonj State. Your Excellency, you made a wise decision by appointing Akec Tong as our governor. We wish to inform you at the onset that the grievances we have against him below are not intended to rubbish your wise decision.
If Hon. Akec Tong has failed or is failing to put into action the very reasons for which you appointed him, it is the duty of the community of Tonj, or a section of it to inform you that the man you entrusted with power to serve us is not doing his work as he was assigned.
Mr. Akec now behaves as if he was appointed because of the special connection you have with him, and not because he had to serve the people of Tonj. Your Excellency, this kind of behavior is very dangerous for your politics in the community of Tonj. Any one appointed by you should not betray the trust you gave him by arrogantly mistreating his own people.
We will not accept a leader who makes government appointments based not on merits but on nepotism, clanism, business connections and worse of all, by appointing individuals who do sheer gossip and provide him with meek loyalty. We do not dispute the fact that all the people who were appointed are the sons and daughters of Tonj – we dispute unfair allocation of seats especially that of directors in the state and Tonj state coordinators.
Tonj state offices will be useless to majority of Tonj people, if we all are convinced that Tonj state offices are for relatives, loyal friends, and business friends of Hon Akec Tong Aleu. This misappropriation of public offices is dangerous to community unity, may cause unwanted conflicts and therefore, we will have to bring it to your attention before it is too late.
It may sound unfair, but if this behavior continues, we will not allow Hon Akec Tong to use Tonj state to build family-politics. It is not part of our culture as the people of Tonj. We are nationalist who work all over the world, respecting norms of employment; if this behavior goes on unchecked, we may request your Excellency to remove our governor Hon Akech Tong Aleu in Tonj State and replace him with a more honest, truthful, visionary and compassionate son or daughter of Tonj who will not use the governorship positoon to intimiarde, employ people who are under-age without qualifications to run public offices.
The following list characterized by ill-educated relatives with little experience, being posted in high state positions. With much respect to Hon Makana Akol who the following appointments have not pleased us in at all:
- Madhol Chol Thuc: Secretary General of State (His maternal Uncle)
- Wek Manyuon Mayen Thuc: Director General (Maternal Uncle
- Nyanjang Malek: daughter of Kuanyin Mayen Thuc Administration and Finance in Juba coordinator officer (Akec Tong’s niece)
- Nyariak Akulong Thuc Administration and finance in council of ministers in Tonj state (Maternal Sister)
- Nyanjang Malek: daughter of Kuanyin Mayen Thuc Administration and Finance in Juba coordinator officer (Akec Tong’s niece)
- Makuei Aguer Adel (A relative and Master Degree Student-not yet graduated at University)
Your Excellency, the appointment of Nyariak as a state Director for administration and finance in council of ministers is a complete abuse of public office. Who in his right mind can appoint a fourteen year old girl in such a position – a position that requires high experience? Is this not a direct lean towards corruption? Hon Akec Tong appointed this little girl just because she is the daughter of Alat Mayen Thuc’s sister, a maternal relative – with Alat Mayen Thuc being his own mother:
Now your Excellency, we have dealt with the appointment of maternal uncles. Now we are looking at paternal relatives and uncles:
- Mawien Yuot: Speaker – an uncle
- Deng Awar Mayom: Wau Coordinator – the son of his uncle
- Bol Lual Akol: Executive Director in the office of Governor – cousin
- Anei Madoor Maluac: Town Mayor – a closed relative
- Kuol Kuol Adim administration and finance in Ministry of Finance – a relative
- Abun Dut press secretary grade 3 – the son of his Uncle
As you can see your Excellency, our grievances are based on genuine reasons and they are things you may, at your own discretion call Hon Akec Tong to make a redress. We do not want to conclude that the government of Tonj state has become government of Hon Akec Tong’s family.
These mindless appointments are setting very bad precedents for the people of Tonj and South Sudan.
To be particular, his father ‘s side and mother’s side have taken up all the positions in Tonj State, while he forgets several communities of greater Tonj community, who now feel excluded in the government of Hon Akech Tong Aleu
We do not want to be followed and threatened on phones. He used to threatening the youth wherever he goes.
This public remarks about him being appointed by President and not the community of Tonj is heartbreaking and creates a sense of powerlessness in the community. We need to hold our leaders accountable. Our leaders must respect us, as we respect them. We have a very strong believe that his threats and behavior in the state are the very reason why some 20 youth have joined SPLM-IO. Slow by slow, your Excellency, we do not want to surprise you that Hon Akec Tong will be left alone by communities and youth of greater Tonj.
We would like to categorically state that we the people of Luacjang should be victimized because of reckless appoints of Hon Akec Tong. He has not appointed the whole Luacjang community in his government, but rather, the whole of his maternal family in Luacjang. All 13 positions given to Luac Jang community are only given to his Mother’s siblings and relatives and like the rest of Tonj, the whole Luac Community feels excluded.
His reckless appointment of Commissioner of Tonj east was the reason for the conflict that happened between Rek Tonj and Luac Jang. This mindless behavior of appointing people because one wants to make powerful connections should be avoided as soon as possible, because it is doing no good for our communities.
It is my desire that all my statements are verified. As a future leader, I have no reason to tell lies, because lies may harm me in the future.
What I said is the truth and I wish anyone who will reply me to please dig deeper for more resourceful information at grassroots within Tonj state to verify my statements. You can start in Juba within the coordination office of Tonj state, and then move down to the state headquarters.
I stand to condemn a government that is designed to serve relatives at the expense of greater of our State.
May God Bless the President of the Republic of South Sudan,
May God Bless the heart of Governor to change and do what is right for his people!!
May God Bless South Sudan
SPLM Oyee!!!
State Oyee!!!
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