MY FEARS FOR JONGLEI UNDER AGUER PANYANG
By Job Kiir Garang (Kiir-Agou), Edmonton, Canada
March 6, 2016 (SSB) —- Sometimes I like to rap or “ropoka” a lot when I decide to go on the internet. However, this time I would like to just get out there a bugging observation in a very brief comment. When Aguer Panyang was appointed governor of Jonglei State, in the eyes of many, he came through as a breath of fresh air. He came around as a well-known figure especially during his arm struggle days. His reception when he set foot in Bor town was a perfect demonstration as to how popular he is or would be among the Jonglei electorates. He appeared to be the perfect man that would handle the ever lingering problems of that massive state.
However, when he was given his first assignment to elect his state cabinet, he did raise a few eyebrows with his selections. People have given their own ratio theory based on population disparity as their argument for the distribution of his cabinet seats; a theory I disagree with. The selection was so one-sided, non-consensus in the way it was thought out, and to a greater extent, unconstitutionally fair (whatever that means). It is just disproportionate.
Just for the sake of argument, let’s say that Aguer succeeds as a leader and that the unity we so cry for is achieved. I, personally and a few out there especially among the Duk and Twi East counties, see a situation that is grim and quite possibly a setback as far as our stay in unity is concerned. It is like another metaphorical creation of “Aliap” among bor within the state. The two counties of Duk and Twi East are simply the equivalent of the “during the war” Aliap people among their bor counterparts. They (peole of Duk and Twi East that is) have become the visible minority in the Aguer Panyang’s government. It seems we have reached a bridge at cross-roads and to make this unity attractive and lasting, we need to create an environment where we cross this bridge without any conflict of interests. We do not need to create a future where we have a herd of Rhinos against a lonely and helpless lion. Grim, isn’t it?
This is what I suggest: to make this unity sustainable and works out for everybody, Bor town has to be the central focal political point. It has to be our political ward where everyone whether from Duk or Twi East Counties has the right to contest for any seat he or she feels like running for. People from all the counties should be able to vote for a political figure they so choose. If we do not act now, I am afraid that we are likely to face a future of deep seeded segregation, exploitation and oppression. Not only are these situations possible, it would be a permanent state of affairs for many years. Sad to say but it is quite a possible outcome.
Just to conclude, it is not hearsay anymore that we have a lot of young people in the Jonglei State arena that are knowledgeable enough to run things at the National, State or county levels. I know we have a history, well-documented, that our elders rarely gave up leadership to younger people. They held a belief that leadership is generational and that time would come for subsequent younger generations. I think it is high time we part ways with this, dare I call it, archaic mentality.
This is a different world with different sorts of political, economic and social realities: something that I believe younger generation is very much more conversant with. I am not under the illusion that experience does not trump academic papers sometimes. It works really well in the Western world but in Jonglei and indeed in South Sudan, it does not apply. For you elders, begin to think about your educated sons and daughters and get them in the system before it is too late.
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