Governor Philip Aguer: New Jonglei State to be divided into 2-4 more states
“Creation of new counties or new states should be taken positive,” said Governor Philip Aguer
By Mach Samuel Peter, Bor, Jonglei State
September 18, 2016 (SSB) — The governor of Jonglei State Philip Aguer Panyang Jot said re-division of New Jonglei state into two or four more states should be taken positive as popular demand of the people.
Some communities in Jonglei state have reviled with incivility denouncing these popular call meanwhile others have thump up the incumbent leadership. In an exclusive interview with Mach Samuel Peter, Governor Philip said there are voices calling for new states something that should be welcomed. He said new Jonglei state can be divided into two or four states based on the will of the people.
“Even those campaigning for re-division of Jonglei state into two, three or four states, there is nothing bad with it as long as peace and sustainable security and unity among the people because administrative units should not be a basis for division they should be utilized to unify the people through decentralization,” Governor Aguer said.
“The creation of new counties or new states should be taken positive,” Philip Aguer said.
The purpose for the creation of new counties is dated back to SPLM vision of taking sustainable security and sustainable development closer to the common people.
Aguer said there is no fund for 14 new counties currently except that South Sudan ministry of finance and economic development pledged incorporation of new counties into South Sudan fiscal year 2016/2017 budget of about 30 millions SSP.
“There is no budget as we speak but what we are certain is that the former three counties have budget but if we don’t get anything (budget) then the counties created from Bor County will divide the budget of Bor and the counties created out of Twic East will divide the budget of former Twic East and for Duk will divide the budget of former Duk county,” He further said.
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In a related development, some individuals have called for the boycott of the peace conference in Anyidi in solidarity of two young girls abducted Friday allegedly by Murle armed men. In a bid to foster good relationship between Boma and Jonglei, the governor believes the government will use the conference to call for the return of those children and cattle.
He said the Peace conference at Gumuruk attended by the governor of Boma state and deputy minister of defense Gen. Yau Yau will bear fruits.
“Our slogan is peace, unity and development without unity and peace there will be no development so we are working hard to achieve lasting peace with our neighbors so the issue of two children abducted will be raised during the meeting,” He said.
“I think am for unity and anything that supports unity is welcome,” Governor Aguer conclusively said.
Government of Jonglei state submitted a proposal for 11 counties but by surprise 3 more counties were added in a document signed by the president of the Republic Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit conceivably recommended by the South Sudan council of states.
Inadequate budget had delayed operationalization and the swearing in ceremony of commissioners of newly created counties in the new Jonglei State. The old budget could not accommodate 14 new counties nevertheless the call for more states is unfortunate because there is no new budget.
Earlier the civil societies in Jonglei rejected the creation of new counties because of insufficient fund but the communities have pushed the governor and the national government to implement their wishes.
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