The campaign for the post of the speakership of the transitional national assembly kicks off in Juba
4 min readBy Pal Chol Nyan, Juba, South Sudan
May 5, 2016 (SSB) — The people of Greater Equatoria started contesting and campaigning for the post of the TNLA which the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan allotted to them. Those vying for the positions are Dr Luka Tombekana Manoja, Betty Achan, Dr. Nailo Mayo and Lino Makana from Kiir’s camp. I am hearing that Henry Oduwar, an Equatorian from IO, is Dr Riek’s only nominee, unopposed. The race is tight. People may think the process would be democratic but this is not the case in African politics. The President’s favourite is not known among the four contestants. This hullabaloo of competition and who is best suited for the job is a code to mislead public opinion.
The VP Cde James Wani, An Equatorian from CES, had served two terms in the as a Speaker during the eight years of interim period and two years of the independence of the country. The public opinion tells that this time, the post may go to either EES or WES.As the status quo dictates, the government may opt for a Speaker who would not challenge the executive, who knows?. Thomas Wani Kundu, the chairman of the Equatorian caucus in the Parliament said they need a competent, decisive and a nationalist person to take up the post who would take the people of South Sudan ahead, no matter which parties he comes from. He must not be tribalist or work according to the stride of others or against public interest.
Most of those who nominated themselves were ministers and blamed for the failure and corruption which brought about the bloodiest cabinet reshuffle of 2013 .It is yet to know whether any of them will deliver anything in case one gets the chance to make it as the Speaker. Kiir yesterday, to the surprise of many who read the agreement, appointed 10 advisors in exercise of his unlimited presidential powers and which others, considered as a flagrant violation and breach of the articles of the ARCISS. He named, among others, Nhial Deng Nhial as a Senior Advisor and a Special Envoy just like Bashir’s Mustafa Osman Ismail whom the SPLM, the NCP peace partner, accused of usurping the powers of the Minister of Foreign Affairs occupied by the SPLM.
I hope Nhial Deng will cooperate with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Until the last minute of the issuance of Presidential decrees, an informed source said that President Kiir was not comfortable with the appointment of Hon Deng Alor, for fear of the unknown, may be a phobia of a diplomatic coup. I think that fear is allayed by Nhial’s appointment as a Special Envoy to take up some sensitive issues to do with foreign policy. Dr John Gai is appointed as an Advisor on Education. Dr John is an academician and a University Professor but interestingly the current Minister of Higher Education on the SPLM IO docket; Professor Peter Adwok, known for being brutally frank, knows his job and I don’t think Dr Gai will have much to advise H.E, the President on issues to do with Education.
If there are people expected to be manipulated, Professor Adwok will not be one of them. You cannot fail to understand that the yesterday’s decrees are a replica of the 2010 post-election Bashir’s largest ever cabinet with 16 Presidential advisors. Given our current economic crisis, this is out of question. I am seriously urging the suffering South Sudanese to tie their belts because there is no hope of getting enough basic services as the money will go to the Ministers and Advisors as salaries and allowances. If Dr Riek nominates his Advisors, the number of the advisors will disappointingly increase. An insider told me Dr Riek is asked to bring his list of five nominees to be appointed as Advisors.
I am not against our people being accommodated or appointed to various positions. The President may be right to appoint advisors in spite of the fact that it is not enshrined in the agreement. He has experiences of rebellions staged by the people of own camp as a result of redundancy but why at the expense of the ordinary person Mr President? We only need services rendered with transparency and an accountability. Let the agreement be faithfully implemented as per its provisions so that the people of this country enjoys the peace dividends.
You can reach the author, Pal Chol Nyan, at his email address: <palcholnyan@yahoo.com>
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.
About Post Author
