What is Behind the Current “Political Murmur” in Warrap State, South Sudan
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By Dr. Thomas Akuith Ngong, Juba, South Sudan
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 (PW) — As mass media has become our popular source of sharing essentially crucial information, I am privileged today to have a say on the contemporary politics of Warrap State. Things are going harder and harder in the fragile Warrap State. Analytically, it is a situation that promptly needs an immediate address from the leadership of the R-TGoNU in Juba.
Politics is a game. Siding with a political leader (s) is a normal habit. It should not be political hatred as hazily manifested in Warrap State politics. There exists a poor perception that if one staunchly supports a political figure, he/she is believed to have a pecuniary deal with that political figure.
Oppositely, it is not exactly the case according to certain political supporters. Political supporters side with political leaders for reasons that are best known to them. Their political stance needs to be viewed properly before hurriedly and thoughtlessly concluding that such a supporter is supporting such a leader on the basis of financial grounds. Having clarified that, I want to succinctly take you through the insight of Warrap State politics. Wait, you will agree with me in awhile!
I have been named as Hon. Victor Atem Atem’s boy for long by his political opponents. This happened during his governorship in the defunct Gogrial State. It came as a result of the article I wrote and entitled “Hon. Victor Atem Atem is the Nelson Mandela of Gogrial State”. I didn’t react in a negative way to such a shameful political naming. Instead, my support for him remains unshakable based on many reasons. I still believe that VAA is the only door for development in the politically fractured Warrap State.
VAA’s political career came into being when he served as a Commissioner of Gogrial East County from the years 2011-2013. He worked tirelessly to ensure that natives of his county could get highly expected social and economic services. He wasn’t imposed on people by the state government but he was a people’s political favorite. His commissionerial time was the zenith of realization of common services. His stay as a commissioner was explicitly unquestionable. He was branded as a great leader. He served people meticulously and willingly till his relief.
The man as popularly advertized by his polished administration, was taken to the state level as a Minister of General Education and Instruction. He reformed the frail educational system. His political popularity increased gradually. He then climbed to a gubernatorial seat in the shortest time possible. His impressive performance is what always qualifies him.
When 10 States were split into 28 and later into 32 plus Abyei Administrative Area, he was appointed as a third governor of ex-Gogrial State. He governed until reversion to 10 States. His leadership brought about peace and stability among the conflicting communities of Gogrial State. Consciously, the writer is pretty sure that you all know his achievements in his gubernatorial era.
Over recent years, a handful of Apuk people have been vehemently hostile of his being in power. I utterly fail to comprehend the reasons behind their odium of the man in question. The situation deteriorates intermittently. Lots of things have been said against and in favor of him during and after his gubernatorial era. To be frank, his likes are not many in Warrap State!
What constitutes the politics of VAA’s leadership? I wish all of us could mentally analyze the pros and cons of his leadership during his gubernatorial epoch before deciding his political status. I wish to beg my readership to review his successes and failures beforepremature conclusion of how bad or good his leadership is. Our wish is progress in Warrap State.
The leader in question brought relative peace in the obsolete Gogrial State. That’s a duty which his preceding political colleagues fell short of. He continued and finished construction of Kuajok Bridge. He maintained security within the State and with the neighborhoods. He proved to be a game changer. He spearheaded state institutional reforms. He is an epitome of our today’s leaders.
Conversely, some Apuuk whom he served as a commissioner for an ample amount of time have commonly felt bad of him. There is one key statement I always hear from most of them concerning VAA. They say that he killed a renowned youth veteran commonly called Agɔ̈th-Macholdït for no clear reason. They sayhis death penalty was an egregious move. This is what angered and made them bilious of VAA. But most state inhabitants say that Mr. Agoth was a leading long-time cattle rustler around communal borders.
Conclusively, VAA is ideally a leader of the people. He is the right choice to take up Warrap State’s governorship in order to tackle the State’s dismal insecurity. The civil population views him as an implementer of people’s demands while the disgruntled politicians see him as a highly corrupt leader. However, he is a leader of the ordinary people who readily need him for service.
Author Disclaimer: The views expressed herein have no connection with Bahr el Ghazal Youth Union (BAYU) or any political group. But they are solely the views of the writer. The writer is a concerned citizen of diverse Warrap State. He is not a mouthpiece of Hon. Victor Atem Atem. The writer, Dr. Thomas Akuith Ngong, is an MBBS graduand from the University of Juba and a Health Secretary at Bahr el Ghazal Youth Union. He lives at Jebel Dinka Area in Juba. He is contactable aerially on 0921809762 or electronically via thomasakuiz88@gmail.com.
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