Inappropriate dressing or politically motivated: The expulsion of Hon. Mabior Garang from cabinet session
By Pal Chol Nyan, Juba, South Sudan
May 12, 2016 (SSB) — Was the expulsion of Hon Mabior from the cabinet session related to inappropriate dress or politically motivated? The substance of a person can’t be judged by any external appearance, “Sir Winston Churchill”. The Federal Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hon Mabior Garang was expelled from the first cabinet meeting last Friday for inappropriate dress by the Head of State. It is significant to note that the Honorable Minister wore a bowtie and this angered H.E. the President of the Republic who ordered the Minister to leave the hall, to go and change his dressing styles.
There was procedurally no prior warning, be it verbal or written. The Minister respectfully walked home as fast as his legs could carry him. He went and put on his black suit with a necktie and a hat for him to look like His Excellency, the President. When he walked back, I was told by an insider that he clashed with the security and was prevented from going in. The version given for blocking him was that the President was already in the hall and as matter of principle and according to the State protocol, once the President is already inside, nobody should get in again no matter what. I agree with that version if it was done in good faith.
I hope there was nothing sinister behind it. I am of the opinion that the Hon. Minister could have been allowed to continue in the cabinet meeting and then later advised to follow and comply with what is required. I looked at the praxis used to treat the minister, as a sheer humiliating move intended to stir up the situation and by extension derailing the peace agreement (God forbade).
I partly concur with the President on his decision to correct his subordinates. Amazingly and what is mind-boggling is that, the Minister was in bowtie during the swearing –in ceremony. What is now special that caught the attention of the President? Sir Winston Churchill, the then UK PM, during the monarchy of George V1 and Elizabeth 2, was spotted to have been officially seated in his office in Downing Street in bowtie and there was no row. An informed source close to the State Protocol confided to me that he has never come across any code of business conduct prescribing the official cabinet dress code.
The views I gathered said that the Hon Minister must have been targeted for having taken the wrong side. He has also been more critical and so vocal about President Kiir’s government policies. These people substantiated their argument that a certain former government minister used to attend the Cabinet meeting in strange dresses totally distinct from the rest. He had never been expelled or rebuked for misconduct. He was later sacked on different grounds.
The emotional expulsion of Hon Mabior was an indirect expression of wrath by his tribesmen who feel bitter about him for having thrown in his lots with a person who poses a threat to their rule and who once fought his father. His tribesmen deemed him a traitor for having sided with their adversaries. This scenario was pitiful and hence considered politically motivated.
My advice to the Hon Minister is that if it is wrongly fixed in others’ minds that a dressing style can change the shape or appearance of a person, follow suit. This is to forestall more frictions in the future. We don’t want anybody to be a cause for more conflicts .Let us work together with the President for reforms and promote healings and national reconciliation. Leave those who are fond of preaching to the converted.
Nobody in his right mind would fail to discern that expelling you was not, technically speaking, related to the dress code but deep –rooted. Appointing you as a minister from the enemy camp is in others’ opinion a betrayal; which is not true. You have worked for it. It is recognition of your diligence by your boss who recommended you. It was not a gift from anybody whatsoever.
Finally, let it not escape our minds that the 2013 State of emergency is not yet lifted. We must take care of ourselves and the way we deal with others especially at J1 and the cabinet.
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