Warrap SPLM youth back governor’s removal
December 9, 2013 (JUBA) – Youth activists from South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Warrap state have resolved to have governor Nyandeng Malek removed from office.
The governor, in defense, insisted the changes she made were “minor” to seek approval of the state assembly, but legislators have described her actions as “unconstitutional”.
“The entire SPLM youth leadership had, after studying carefully the current political development, particularly the manner in which the governor Warrap had decided to manage the affairs of the state, come out with clear position and declared support to the SPLM position”, said Karlo Maluil Makuek, the lead coordinator for the SPLM youth initiative in the state capital, Kwajok.
The youth leader, in a 29 November letter, addressed to the SPLM chairperson, Salva Kiir urged the party leadership to sanction the resignation of Malek.
“This in accordance to the wider consultative meetings we the SPLM youth initiative conducted with all the SPLM organs in all the six counties and Abyei, where it was unanimously resolved that Madam Nyandeng Malek must resign for the sake of peace and development”, said Makuek.
Morris Mabior, another member of the group, said it would not be in the interest of the people of Warrap to allow Malek remain in power, claiming that the latter had lost support.
“Governor is no longer popular in the state. She does not represent the people of Warrap anymore. This is why they are asking for her removal because they are the people who voted for her in 2010 and are the same people who are now asking for her removal because she is not delivering”, Mabior exclusively told Sudan Tribune in a separate interview.
Meanwhile, Joseph Anei Madoor, the director for Public relations and political affairs in the governor’s denied the youth claims, insisting that the reception the governor received on arrival to the state after spending nearly a month of absence showed she still commands mass support from citizens.
“The governor returned to the state and was received by mammoth crowd comprised of her cabinet ministers, members of civil society groups, United Nations agencies, among others”, said Madoor.
This tremendous reception was a major manifestation that people of Warrap are convinced of her competences in discharging duties”, he stressed.
His version of event was, however denied by multiple sources who said the governor was only welcomed by a select team of ministers.
James Machok Deng, a native from Warrap, said the parliament had done the best it could by informing the public about the constitution violation and that it was now the public to take charge.
“As the house, we brought the issue to the fore and said it openly that the constitution had been violated by the governor. A resolution about this violation had been passed. Now it is the work of the public to defend the constitution in accordance to article 10 (2) of State constitution 2011”, said Deng.
All the citizens are invited to defend the constitution when it is violated as such, he added.
(ST)