South Sudan cabinet lineup is a clean break from the past

By Isaiah Abraham

September 2, 2011 — The Republic of South Sudan (RSS) has its first Cabinet line up announced on August 26, 2011. Never mind about constitutional forty (40) days requirement for the cabinet to be put in place; the delay wasn’t any crisis. Again no one bother about any cabinet becoming lean and slimmer. But where I started this odyssey, the ride to the cabinet announcement was a mixture of prolonged discomfort, apprehension and pleasure in near equal measure. In the end though we were serve with a kind of an elixir for the pain of waiting. They took their oath on Thursday (yesterday), September 1, 2011). Though not everyone is satisfied, Mr. Kiir has come out of age and should be congratulated for a job well done.

We have before us a list of sixty- less three- ministers (Ministers and their Assistants combined), and with no time lost however, we have heard hullabaloo and hues against the President of our republic for what he didn’t do or should have been done there, something so normal in any democratic society. Some criticisms are somewhat justified but others are utter nonsense only driven by tribal inchoate to score an argument against certain political party or group. By any standard, the current men and women represent faces of our people, for them to deliver is another thing; the fact that we have an inclusive government makes other misgivings irrelevance. Big brother Kiir has done what a listen person does to fix what was almost about to tear our beautiful land apart.

I have heard a group of youngsters under Greater Bor Youth whatever faulted President Kiir on the formation and shuffling of the government throughout the past six years. Their letter dated 27/8/2011 to one of the local newspapers (Citizen) issue No. 217 was a diversion from people who have no political problems throughout our political history. In any consecutive government then till to date in the South, people of Bor form part of any system. On this particular appointment, and for them to cry, they have missed it wide. Of course Mr. Kiir has goaded these people more than once, and the story is long. It is good now these people are sending an unmistakable warning against the president. Dismissal (oh, it is called retirement) of officers or systematic phasing out of Bor officers everywhere wasn’t a nice thing to do for a man that has 99% following from there. The story could come another day.

As to the appointment in hand, Bor people should slice a pie and shut up! Some places such as Maiwot, Nasir and Ulang Counties aren’t anywhere near, but they are quiet, owing to the fact that it is impossible to have everyone on board at the same time. There is no any government that could accommodate everyone; it doesn’t exist. But if we could give the president time, there other rooms in the government for politicians.

But brother Gordon Buay had pointed out something related to meritocracy in his last issue that appeared on the 27/8/2011. Though the government is fairly cut across our region, compare to previous ones, in terms of representation, the meritocracy gem in there has been compromised, and my fears are confounded when I look at the ‘Achill heels’ or old faces. These people are indeed are rotten, and the president should have done better to leave them out . The fuel man (Garang Diing) should have been given a boot ; the same could have been applied to the Mr Stephen Dieu for sleeping over his job on prices. Does anyone on the top know that bread has jumped to three pounds for three pieces? The two institutions (Commerce and Mining) have failed our people a big deal. No amount of excuse could wipe away a poor job on the side of the ministers in question. Unfortunately, the president and parliamentarians haven’t felt any pinch about how the economy is crunching before everyone watch.

On Finance even if the appointment looks find, there is a voice already that Comrade Koste Manibe is a soft and a deadwood, thrown into a hot seat, say he won’t deliver. I can’t imagine seeing him making any shift against financial sharks posted by the connected to fleece the Treasure for personal benefits. Dr. Lual Deng if the business of money matters for development could have been tried. Dr. Deng is a rare shoot, developmental oriented chap who could have redeemed the government from perennial financial problems related to delay, procrastination, economic stagnation and abuses, skill deficit and the list goes on.

The point for everyone to know is this: the president (Gen. Kiir) has done his part, may be we should leave him alone and look at what the men and women will do to our people. Secondly, it is high time for us look to the future with sense of hope; the future is indeed bright, it is upon us to throw away our gains for our own risk! We must turn attention away from petty things and look at big pictures in the areas of political uncertainty about Abyei, the oil transit status through the Republic of the Sudan, the food security issue for our people, the road networking to our towns, the appalling education system in the country, disarmament (insecurity in some parts), and tribalism.

Personally I was short changed as my best and serious contender was elbowed for a junior position, a departure from what I had expected. But in all, we have a president for all! Thank you our dear President for keeping up the banner of our liberation! Turn to SPLM party and put life back before it dies, you got my thump up this time about sir!

Isaiah Abraham lives in Juba; he’s on [email protected]