Form VP Wani Igga’s Speech during his Swearing in Ceremony as SPLM Secretary General

SPEECH OF SPLM FIRST DEPUTY CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY GENERAL GEN. PROF. DR. CDE. JAMES WANI IGGA

Tue/25/2/2025

SPLM Oyee. SS Oyee. SPLM Rejuvenation
Cde/ Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, Chairman of the SPLM and President of the Republic of
South Sudan,

My colleagues at different levels,
Good morning to each and every one of you.
I address, this historic occasion, first, as the 1st SPLM Deputy Chairman plus, the new added load of the SPLM Secretary General. Am honoured once again, along the heavy stone.
Revolutionary greetings and love in this historic day, that I am sworn in for the second time
as the Secretary General of the Mighty SPLM Party. History today has repeated itself.

In the 1st SPLM National Convention of Chukudum 1994, I became the first ever Secretary General of the revolutionary armed struggle as the political wing of the Movement. In 2002 I combined the position of the Deputy Chairman and the Secretary General of the
SPLM/A, until I was elected the first Speaker of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in
2005.

Today, Comrade Chairman, I am deeply indebted, as the First Deputy Chairman, in fact,
democratically elected by the 2008 NC, to accept the additional assignment of the Secretary General of our Mighty Party under your wise leadership. Some of us from the womb, are born revolutionaries and undoubted patriots. Truly, some of us have manifested this beyond doubt, to the SPLM in the first place, and secondly to the beloved people of South Sudan. We can still creatively and energetically, inject more innovation in the upcoming journey, to meet the aspirations of our people. Up to this hour, I have written eleven hot selling books, six (6) of which are on political orientation, party rebuilding and reorganization.

My number twelfth (12th) book as I address this floor, is at a manuscript advance stage, holistically on SPLM historical perspectives. Without such revelations/unearthing, our sacrifices plus tears during the last contribution, will be a treasury buried in
sand dune. In this connection, I must refer to the historical moment, when the SPLM leadership sat in Newsite in an emergency meeting, following the painful, unfortunate and tragic death of Dr. John Garang De Mabior. For a successor of the late, in that meeting, it was resolved that we did not need to beat around the bush, but to outright follow the established hierarchy of the Movement.

The choice then, fell upon you comrade chairman Gen. Kiir Mayardit, as the next
person succeeding the deceased iconic chairman. Your nomination, endorsement and election on that historic day, as you will recall, actually came from some of us, the Leadership
Council/PMHC, within members present in this august gathering. Dear comrades, that is a
necessary precedence, prudence and living example to refer to. Indeed, it was a democratic
process by all standards, as demanded by the SPLM constitution.

1. Cde. Chairman, allow me to abundantly and sincerely congratulating you, for faithfully
   bringing us to independence and up to this moment. In the victorious achievement of this
   mission, you were strongly flanked by this devoted SPLM leadership and loyal industrious
   cadres, before you here. This is the spectacular moment, for us and myself from the depth of
   my heart, to thank them for their invaluable tireless contribution, determination coupled with unwavering discipline in supporting your leadership, but more so in bolstering the SPLM Party.

I want at this critical hour, to say millions of mobrukat for keeping us together. This
reminds us that we must persistently stick together, and remain unfragmentable pillars of this youngest Nation. Or else, we quickly succumb to a serious vulnerability, identical to a lion’sprey. A divided house, surely collapses.
Comrade Chairman, me being one of the founding fathers like most survivors of PMHC
members, of this gigantic Party, permit me to make it crystal clear to all cadres, that, as a
principled member of the leadership of this Party, the recent changes in the executive
wing of the government, do not negatively cause an earthquake. My utmost allegiance to
your leadership and thus, our dear party must remain unshakable.

Comrades, nothing will change my long loyalty and patriotism to this nation, people and the gallant strugglers, after the hard 21 years of unbearable sufferings, sacrifices and agonies. Moreover, some of us are still energetic enough to chase even antelopes. At this juncture, kindly let us remind ourselves of the unforgettable role, of the ultimate and iconic First Chairman of the SPLM and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA, Comrade Dr. John Garang De Mabior as the then exemplary torch of the peoples’ struggle. As such, I will not throw away the wise guidance and teachings of this great man, on how we should realistically pursue the noble Mission, Objective and Vision, towards the ultimate freedom and prosperity of our people.

Our hard labour, must patter out in a manner compelling us to take towns to our people, who
have so much sacrificed themselves for bitter 40 years of sweat and shedding of blood, to
achieve the long-aspired independence. This hard struggle, characterized by the tears of our
martyrs, only became possible and successful, because of the wide participation of our
nationalistic people from all corners of South Sudan. I recall the time how Dr. John tasked
me in 1983 while still in Juba, to continue massively mobilizing the youths of Equatoria,
that culminated in 20,000 recruits before I fled and joined the bush.

Yet, when I took the overall command since 1987 of Central and Western Equatoria zone, up to the final fall of Yei in 1997 and the surrounding towns, we recruited over 10 brigades in this axis alone. We must therefore, collectively continue to carry the cross, like Jesus did to mount Calvary, so that we don’t squander this hard-earned liberation. For us to achieve this sacred burning desire of our people, we must not let them lose their burning hope. Hence, this calls for stronger unity,
trust of one another, stability of our beloved Country and delivering the final fruits of
development and happiness. This collectively, vehemently requires all the SPLM Organs to be
reactivated at once, and democratically conduct decisions, leading to a healthy lasting peaceful coexistence and rebirth of our hard-won nation.

Comrade Chairman, with this additional assignment to my humble self, we need to financially strengthen, re-strategise, reorganize and reenergize the SPLM; ready for the victory in the upcoming 2026 elections. I therefore, call on all members of the mighty SPLM party to
genuinely reconcile, forgive one another while cohesively forging forward for a common
purpose, the purpose of keeping this country solidly united. Unity, Discipline, trust and

2. hard work must spearhead all hope. Fellow comrades, we must therefore immediately stand on our toes, prepared to be assigned to programmes culminating in the convening of the SPLM Congresses, National Convention and General Elections.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our intention, at this stage, is to overhaul, conduct concrete reforms
and meaningfully rejuvenate the PB, NLC and the National Secretariat. A philosopher
once said “an old broom knows all the corners”. Cde. Peter Lam Both and the team, no doubt did their best in our Party reorganization while providing a foresight, we shall continue from where he as a good architect, put his last stone but stopped. We shall use tools and instruments of varying approaches.

Above all, our women and youths must be at the top of all considerations, opportunities
reinforced by tirelessly seeking solutions for their general welfare. Furthermore, we must never forget the welfare of our dear wounded-in-action heroes, veterans, at the same time taking care of their families and those of our martyrs. To my colleagues of the National Secretariat, let each prepare his/her departmental report within 7 days and deliver to me.

In short, we must put people first, in everything we do and every resources we raise, never self.
I shall not, in my tenure tolerate any diversion of the Movements’ assets and liquidity alike
within the National Secretariat. In turn, government institutions, headed by SPLM ministers or leaders, must faithfully brief, the National Secretariat of their programmes and activities, accordingly. In a similar tone, indiscipline and maladministration ought to be fought and will not be condoned. Our department for disciplining members followed by party penalties, are being stepped-up and
modernized.

In conclusion, Cde. Chairman and distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, reinforced by the entire membership of our ruling Party, let us jointly work for the countrywide true and sincere inclusivity, fairness and equality devoid of any stain of discrimination on any basis, as we persist to administer our holy mother land, for which our People, overtime, poured rivers of
blood, built mountains of bones. The SPLM as a national party with overwhelming following
in the three regions of South Sudan must remain inclusive at both party and executive levels.

Fellow comrades, we need to adhere to regional diversity and representation of the SPLM in the government structures up to the presidency. Let us join hands to value our mighty Party more than our communities. This is a necessity and we must never go back to war again. Peace and stability must be our daily slogan. In this context, we must genuinely combat all tendencies to tribalism, nepotism and hate talks; all of which evils, are regrettably on a constant extreme rise. By adhering to the above guidelines, principles, values and way forward, we shall definitely be, on the positive side of our history chapter.

Finally, kindly grant me permission, to profusely thank all of you for attention. God bless South
Sudan.

SPLM Oyee
Cde. Prof. Gen. Wani Igga
First Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of the SPLM Party.

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