John Garang or Salva Kiir: Who is the "Founding Father" of South Sudan?
6 min read“Today is the day to take off our hats in saluting and honouring our martyrs, heroes and heroines. It is the day to ponder how much Dr. John Garang De Mabior, founder of our nation, and all our martyrs whose blood has cemented our nation, and all our martyrs whose blood has cemented our national foundation, have done for us,” President Salva Kiir’s maiden speech on July 9th, 2011
By Ateny Wek Ateny, Juba, South Sudan
October 17, 2016 (SSB) —- I am tempted to ask the above question in what I hoped, if discussed intellectually would settle the dust once and for all. The question whether Dr. John Garang de Mabior was or not the Father of the Nation has always been a subject of serious debate amongst South Sudanese as whole. To some, the answer is “Yes” in a manner that even undermined the roles played by President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the First Lady Mary Ayen Mayardit in the establishment of the Nation of South Sudan– hence Madam Nyandeng claims of the title.
Of course, for the people of a country that just came to being some five years ago, the question of who should be considered to be having the title of Father or Mother of the Nation could be inadvertently confusing. It is even worse, when the majority of people of South Sudan have either having no stamina or has been made throughout the years of marginalization in the Sudan not to appreciate the different between the SPLM and the Nation.
Therefore, the two are used either synonymously, or ignorance of what it mean by the nation is on its advance stage, nevertheless. To some extent, Mr. Kiir’s adversaries often intentionally referred to Dr. John and Madam Nyandeng as Father and Mother of the Nation, in an attempt to belittle him and his wife Madam First Lady. Sometimes, it is understandable. No adversary that can praise the one to whom he/she opposes to. Even on orthodox truth the adversaries are always on the opposite.
Notwithstanding, President Salva Kiir Mayardit is the Father of the Nation with his wife Madam Mary Ayen Mayardit as Mother of the Nation, not the other way round. Dr. John Garang was the Father of the SPLM/A because he founded it and fought together with Salva Kiir and millions others to secure for the people of South Sudan the Right to Self-Determination that culminated into the independent from the Sudan, but there was no nation before him. The Nation of South Sudan came to being exactly six years after the death of Dr. John and therefore, it cannot be retrospectively attached to him as its father.
The simple and humble logic dictates that no one could father or conceive a child in his/her grave. So, in the same note, Madam Nyandeng is revered for being the wife of the founder of the SPLM/A though the role she and her son Mabior has played in December 15, 2013’s political upheavals in the country may have been counterproductive to their inherited refutations. Yet, historically, she is the wife of the founder of the movement and cannot be a Mother of Nation whatsoever.
But, it depends on Madam Nyandeng accepting this dictating political reality. She is not, and shall never be the Mother of the Nation. She doesn’t need this title simply because God did not give her. If, Dr. John was to hoist the Flag of the Nation (which became a reality) on July 9, 2011, even if he was to die later after five minutes, the title of the Father of Nation would have still undisputedly remained his – and therefore, Madam Nyandeng would have had inalienable right to be called the Mother of Nation. Otherwise, the truth in this for her will remain illusive.
The author understands how some people could be allergic to the truth. Depending on how people think you are, some may believe or sees themselves to be what is in the illusions of others, if others persistently sung to their ears what they are not unknowingly, or intentionally in an attempt to falter them. During Pharaoh Egypt’s era, people of Egypt decided to refer to Pharaoh King as “The Creator of Egyptians” in an attempt to defuse the King’s aggressive and brutal behaviors.
The title of “The Creator of Egyptians” was used persistently to the King delight for very longtime, until the Pharaoh King accepted the title. One day, while he was addressing Egyptians, he cited a story that “when he created Egyptians, he did not intend to make them have similar brains or talent” and the Egyptians were shocked. The flatterers made the King to believe he was the creator. Otherwise, a modern dictatorship often comes from persistent glorification of one against all others, either for good or bad by those who are allergic to the truth.
Finally, judging from the story of the Egyptian’s Pharaoh King it is incumbent upon Madam Nyandeng de Mabior to desist from looking to herself as the Mother of the Nation, or even stop enjoying the illusions of those faltering her. She had enough to enjoy from Dr. Garang’s legacy. Dr. John Garang is being revered or adorned, and will remain sacrosanct to the people of South Sudan forever. However, General Salva Kiir Mayardit must also be given space to occupy in history because like John Garang he (Kiir) is another liberator in the struggle for freedom.
Dr. John symbolizes our identity, his Mausoleum is what we all gathered to celebrates our independent from, SPLM Day, Martyrs Day, and even any other political rallies are held their just to keep remembering John Garang in special way. Garang is the face of our currency, the best University of Technology, the best primary Schools all in his name. And, finally his wife, his son are helping Riek Machar to sink the nation founded on his blood and that of millions other South Sudanese’s whose lives perishes just to have what is called the nation.
So, even if Madam Nyandeng was to be the Mother of the Nation, then the question remains, does she want this nation to continue to be sovereign amongst other nations on line of her current role in the country political crises?
The author is the Press Secretary in the Office of the President and can be reached through e-mail atenywekayom@gmail.com. However, the views expressed in the article are solely author owns’ views and so any shortcomings or controversies it has borne do not represent the Office of the President.
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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