Lino Lual versus Makiir Gai and the intervening Santino Akot Abiem!
By Sunday de John, Eastern Lakes state, Yirol
April 9, 2016 (SSB) —- Since I left from Nairobi for Juba and then to Yirol my home state/town, I have been moving to the territories as remote as Pangual and many other areas around Ciirkou putting my cattle together for a social promotion or call it marriage. I have had disconnection with the world and more so, with issues pertaining Republic of South Sudan my beloved country.
It is today, Saturday, that Brother Mou Magok gave me the opportunity to get connected with the external environment and the world through the Internet. I scanned through my favourite world wide websites (Washington Post, Daily star Lebanon and Standard Media) then I eventually turned to the propaganda outlets like Sudan tribune and many other small dispensations. It is through PaanLuel Wel blogger site that I scanned through few articles then then went through an article written by one Lino Lual Lual, titled MAKIIR GAI: THE OTHER GOVERNOR WE KNOW NOT IN GOKRIAL.
The article existed in parts, it is a narration of how influential Makiir Gai is although it has been written in a rather wanting language. I do not personally know who Makiir Gai is except through some musical lyrics. What interested me most was the involvement of Santino Akot Abiem whom I know but whose news of having been appointed to a certain position is certainly behind me.
In Lino’s wanting language, Makiir has been the man behind the appointment of Gokrial’s governor, deputy governor and some ministers and that through Santino’s influence Makiir Gai became the chair of the community leadership and that he was alleged to feed the community. He accused Makiir of double standards, corruption, nepotism, favouritism and all those other bad –isms that you know.
However, on a footnote and with clear conscience, the arguments contained in that lengthy piece written by Lino are a portrayal of cheap politics based on sectional sentiments and personal nags. In my view of things and as a patriotic son of the country, I can reassure the writer than Santino Akot Abiem who doesn’t even hail from my place is a middle age young and vibrant personality capable of running the affairs of any state as a governor let alone the post of deputy governorship.
In my view, Makiir wants to use his wealth for the good of his people. He is philanthropic in this supposed action. He is telling businessmen/businesswomen in other parts of South Sudan that wealth without people is useless and so rescue people from hunger by spending your wealth on them, I supposed. He is fighting selfishness by revealing selflessness to all South Sudanese but first by starting at home.
In other words, if Makiir has accorded people of Gokrial state the hospitality of feeding them in this era of hunger, then it shouldn’t be envied, he has to be given full support so that the dying people down the territories of greater Gokrial could survive through food he would provide.
It is not always politics that counts. Makiir if the allegations are true is offering food not bullets. He isn’t destroying the state. Note with interest that people are the state. Allowing them to die means allowing the state to die. Hating Makiir Gai’s influence is one thing, and the people’s rescue from hunger is quite another. I challenge you that join in and feed a portion of those people, too allow Makiir to do his part. Quarrel not, act for the good of your motherland if you have the ability and start from Gokrial.
State is people. Makiir doesn’t want people to die. He is fighting for Gokrial state to suffice. Moreover, if you think the residence of Gokrial should be neglected during this hunger time by the able sons of the area on counts of settling your personal scores, then you are fighting for no cause. Give Makiir Gai a chance to fight hunger. Allow him to rescue his people. Stop the disdain. Let the philanthropists of the area do what they are cable of.
If Lino Lual’s critique isn’t personally directed at Makiir for mega-personal reasons, he ought not to blame Hon. Santino Akot Abiem, Hon. Governor Abraham Gum, Makiir Gai and some ministers for having accepted to work for the good of Gokrial, rather he should direct his wrath to the President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit the appointing authority.
Nevertheless, Kiir wasn’t an unwise to appoint the above listed officials into the positions they are holding, they might have passed the test of time and credibility and so putting many adverse adjectives to deprive them of this credit is a mere witch-hunt and has no significant weight as far as the interest of statehood is concern.
I hope this serves the day, till then, yours truly, Mr. Teetotaller!
The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing.
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