Hon. Dak Duop Bichiok is more wiser and politically mature than Ezekiel Lol to be in the cabinet
By Amb. Gordon Buay Malek, Juba, South Sudan
May 1, 2016 (SSB) —- The appointment of Hon. Dak Duop Bichiok as the Minister of Petroleum has created a social media war between the supporters of Ezekiel Lol and Hon. Dak Dup. Lol’s supporters argued that he should have been the one appointed as a Minister of Petroleum to represent Jikany of SPLM-IO.
The supporters of Ezekiel Lol do not want to tell us why he is better than Dak Dup to represent Jikany of SPLM-IO. Any politically mature South Sudanese would agree with me that Dak Dup has executive and Leadership skills that Ezekiel Lol doesn’t have. Dak Dup was a Governor for eight years and a Minister for three years. His executive experience is unquestionable.
Besides, Dak Dup has management skills Lol Gatkuoth doesn’t have. When he was a Governor of the then Upper Nile state, he managed to unite all the tribes of Upper Nile state. There had never been a single clash between different tribes when he was in power as a Governor. His successes as a Governor of Upper Nile state are widely known. Most importantly, he managed to bring the SPLM and the NCP together in Upper Nile State to implement the CPA without any friction between the two from 2005 to 2008.
I am 200% sure that Dak Dup is one of the SPLM-IO leaders who will create an environment of consensus and reconciliation between different ministers of the Council of Ministers. The TGONU cabinet is composed of five political factions such as SPLM-South Sudan, SPLM-IO, DC, Former Detainees and other political parties. In order for the cabinet to work together, you need wise and mature politicians like Dak Dup who will create a consensus between different political interests.
The decision making processes of the cabinet of the TGONU is very complex. The agreement dictates that any decision taken by the cabinet must be based on consensus. If there is no consensus, the agreement stipulates that the 2/3 majority decision shall carry the day. Neither the SPLM-South Sudan nor the SPLM-IO can get 2/3 to pass any resolution. If there is no consensus among the majority in the cabinet, the executive branch will be dysfunctional. In that case, individuals like Dak Dup will be instrumental in creating a consensus. When he was a Governor of Upper Nile state from 2005 to 2008, he was leading a coalition Government dominated by the SPLM party. Dak managed to work with the SPLM without any conflict due to his political maturity and wisdom. His political maneuvering and consensus building made it possible for the government of two parties to work smoothly.
Comparing Ezekiel Lol and Dak Dup is like comparing President Obama with Edi Amin Dada. When I read the comments of Lol’s supporters who wanted him to be appointed, I realized that his supporters are politically immature Neanderthals who don’t know that political world is a different planet.
The TGONU cabinet does not want people like Ezekiel Lol whose skill is a character assassination of political opponents. Ezekiel Lol is good at creating conflicts between different groups. He is not a consensus builder like Dak Dup. Dr. Riek Machar is becoming more smarter in politics than I thought for him to realize that the implementation of the Compromised Peace Agreement needs consensus drivers like Dak Dup. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth is not a politician; he is an activist like South African Julius Malembe. A politician is somebody who can give up his interest for the greater good of the society. An activist is not always flexible like a politician who can befriend both Vladimir Putin and Obama at the same time. An activist is a one way traffic person who cannot compromise with his opponent to secure a consensus.
Riek Machar made a right choice for appointing Dak Dup who will get along with other political parties that are members of the cabinet of TGONU. Putting Ezekiel Lol and Taban Deng in the cabinet at the same time could have been a very bad mistake that may jeopardize the peace itself. These two characters are like lighter and kerosene that always create fire when they happen to be together. The conflict of 2013 was largely a plot of Taban Deng and Ezekiel Lol. It could have been a big mistake for Dr. Riek Machar to give these two characters a flat form to ignite another unnecessary conflict. Both Ezekiel Lol and Taban Deng do not believe in peace and prosperity. What drives them is money, money and money. If there is no money, they would want South Sudan to go to hell.
But Dr. Riek has come up with a formula that would prevent these two characters from creating another conflict in South Sudan. Since Ezekiel Lol will be the manager of Dr. Riek’s residence, he will not have time to meet his friend to plot any evil either against Riek Machar himself or against South Sudan peace. This new policy of separating Carlos the Jackal and Osama Bin Laden will save the peace in South Sudan. The people of South Sudan want peace and they want consensus and peace drivers like Dak Dup who can bring together different political groups and parties to do things for the greater good of South Sudan. But Ezekiel Lol is a demolition man who cannot be in the cabinet of TGONU.
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