Upper Nile minister rejects lawmakers decision to sack him
April 9, 2007 (JUBA) — The Minister of Finance for Upper Nile state rejected a state parliament to sack him from his post. He described the push by the Legislative Assembly to dismiss him on corruption charges a “witch-hunt.”
In what he calls “a political conspiracy” by some legislators in Upper Nile to have him sacked, Luke Bidong told Sudan Radio Service (SRS) in Juba on Friday that he does not recognize the dismissal because it was unconstitutional.
Last month the Upper Nile Legislative Assembly voted to remove the Minister of Finance, Luke Bidong, from office on allegations of corruption.
“When they passed that decision they went on air that the Minister of Finance is dismissed from his office, which is not constitutional and not procedural, because the parliament has no right to dismiss by law, by constitution to dismiss the Minister of Finance. They have to make a recommendation; if they passed a vote of no confidence, which is in the constitution, to the governor. And the governor has to make a recommendation to the President of the Government of Ssouthern Sudan, whereby the president will have to issue a decree relieving the minister. If somebody is really accusing me of corruption, I welcome any investigation on me.” said Luke Bidong.
Bidong called for politicians in Upper Nile to work together to overcome the challenges of development in Upper Nile and not engage in what he called “political conspiracies.”
(SRS)