Lam Akol, a genuine political leader

By Kwathi Ajawin *

Feb 9, 2006 — “In this respect, I applaud those, who reminded and alerted the Government and the people of South Sudan through their open letter, concerning Dr. Lam Akol’s past and his current direction. The Sudanese people know that he joined the Movement after he lost the election in 1986, which implies that he would not go to the movement, had he won that election. We all warn and urge Dr. Lam, that our people suffered enough, and it’s time to stand firm behind them, and in defense of their interest, not for personal gains.” Simon Yiep Mayiik

Dear Simon, I have read your articulate and thoughtful article and encourage you to keep writing. However, I believe that you have not been fair to Dr. Lam Akol and that can be attributed to unreliable sources you defended on or may be due to some personal or other grudge. I have trouble digesting the above-mention quotation, so please allow me to point to your flaw and hopefully you and your friends will benefit from my friendly comments.

Firstly: The statement that “the Sudanese people know that Dr. Lam joined the Movement after he lost the election in 1986” is News to me. Dr. Lam did not run for the 1986 elections unless I may be the only Sudanese who does not know! Please educate me on the constituency and on what party ticket did Dr. Lam run in that election? Dr. Lam is one of the few who meant to join the Liberation with pull conscience and commitment. Your statement is a mere propaganda.

Let’s suppose that Dr. Lam had lost that election, so what? Do we have to question his motives and leadership because of that! How about Edward Abyei Lino who had lost that election of 1986, are his motives behind joining the movement questionable? No, this is seriously a very pitiable rationale.

Secondly: Most people know that Dr. Lam was propagating, advancing and recruiting people to SPLM in Khartoum; therefore, he was a SPLM leader within the enemy territory. And no wonder that our late leader appointed him to the High Command in no time.

Someone driven by personal gain will not sacrifice a PhD position and face the danger of Jail and death. Personally and publicly, Dr. Lam was already standing tall and on the News before joining the SPLM, so where is the personal gain? You are terribly being bias.

Thirdly: I’m disappointed that an articulate person like you can applaud a shallow ego-centered letter prescribed by some boys in Canada living under the hangover of the Nasir Declaration and the illusion of becoming ambassadors and diplomats at a twinkle of an eye.

Dr. Lam Akol is the one who recruited heroes like Late Youssif Kuwa and many significant names in the movement today. Let’s give him what he deserves and the least we can give him is respect as he is a model of a selfless leader who does not own a home or a business in Nairobi or ever lived in one of the swimming pools homes like some of the corrupt leaders you people hail. I’m a SPLM member and believe that you guys are doing damage to the party by going after Dr. Lam. We really need his marvelous abilities as we are transforming the movement into a political party. Surely, you know that Dr. Lam, Dr. Peter Nyut Kok, and Edward lino had managed before to form Sudan African Congress (SAC) and in less than a year won two sets in the National Assembly during the third Democracy. We need the man Lam as even the foes respect him. Your campaign to kick him out from his current position will not do any harm to him personally as he is not there for himself as you erroneously alleged, but his removal will affect the party as you need well qualified cabinet members who can deliver to reflect the party abilities on the national level.

Fourthly: You cannot keep a good bright man down. Is it not a mockery and a lip service to praise unity with Cdr. Paulino Matip and encourage Gordon Kong to join while you applaud the SPLM boys who are going nuts against Dr. Lam? Is it not also troubling if only one particular group is spearheading this malicious campaign?

CPA is ours and we are all watchdogs over that document, because we all contributed to it. Let us work for a genuine southern unity and discuss our differences inside the party parameter. Make no mistake about it, we all have teeth and can gnaw. Some of the leaders you support are politically dwarfs who will not measure to the stature of Dr. Lam, but we do not want to get there! You need no reminder that a divided SPLM will neither rule the South nor get a considerable share in governing Sudan.

Eventually: You are wrong in applauding a naïve petition, wrong in calling Dr. Lam motives as driven by personal gains, and deadly wrong in distorting Dr. Lam motives in joining the movement. I believe your favorite commanders are those who claim to be the only ones who know the secrets of our late leader, you can check with them about your Harry- patter election thing. I’m not a law student, but it does not require a law degree to know that if the foundation of a case is wrong then the whole case is discredited and dismissed. It is clear that you did not have Dr. Lam in mind when composing your article, but wanted to ride the waves to prop up your friends. I favor self-control and believe in inner party discussions, but if you guys prefer to go public on the party issues, then we will have no choice but to take it to Cesar.

Thanks once more for your article and I pray you to apply the ending part of it to yourself and preach it to your friends who had wrote the ridiculous petition you applaud. I whole heartily agree with you “with no Southern unity, there will be no independence, or attractive unity”; therefore, I call you to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. My zeal for the party and commitment to the unity of our people prompted me to write this comment, please know that I love you and wish you a very prosperous life in USA.

* Kwathi Ajawin, is a Sudanese activist and a church leader based in Washington, DC and can be reached at [email protected]