The unconstitutional suspension of W. Equatoria minister
South Sudan CPA Watch
The suspension and blackmail of Western Equatoria State Minister of Finance – Hon. John Dominic Dabi is unconstitutional.
By Philip A. Zamba
Nov, 26th 2006 — The Minister of Finance for Western Equatoria State, Hon. John D. Dabi was suspended a month ago by the newly appointed Governor of WES Samuel Abujohn Kabashi following baseless and trumped up charges of fraud and misappropriation of State funds. The decision by the Governor of Western Equatoria State Lt. General Samuel Abujohn Kabbashi came as result of a fabricated and wrong report given to him by Mr. Philip Paul Nvue (Member of council of States, GNU) who was part of a five member committee formed by the Governor in September 2006 to assess and review the state financial transactions and assets.
The committee which was chaired by the D/Governor Mr. Joseph Ngere completed the task but before releasing its official report signed by 5 people on the findings, Hon. Philip Nvue wrote a separate individual fabricated report, which did not conform to the finding of the 5 member committee and was different from the terms of reference given to the committee.
For example in the terms of reference given to the committee, nothing was mentioned about investigation into payment of chiefs in Yambio and Nzara counties. But in the separate report of Mr. Phillip Nvue, item No. six (6) of the report claims that Chiefs of Yambio County, Sub Chiefs and headman of Nzara County and many former SPLM staff in June 2006 complained bitterly that they did not receive any of their payments of CANS while petty traders in the market were paid. Where did this information come from if that was not part of terms of reference to investigate salary payments to chiefs and headman? Who are these chiefs and headman that Hon. Nvue claims that they had complained? Hon. Nvue is urged to come forward with the letter of complaint signed by the said chiefs and verify if their names were on the screened list done by the WES screening committee and sent to Juba to process payments.
In addition Reference to order No. GOSS/SCG/WES/48-B-1 dated 7th November 2007 by the Governor of Western Equatoria State Lt. General Samuel Abujohn, there is claim that the sum of $ 50,000.00 was reported in the Ministry of Finance as Cash in from the Director of Taxation while reported again as donation from GOSS. The controversy in this report is that the same amount is reported in the first paragraph as $ 50,000.00 (fifty thousand dollars) while in the second paragraph, reference is made to the same amount as $ 50,000,000.00 (fifty million dollars). How much exactly was the amount in question? It gives the impression that Hon. Nvue inflates figures in his fabricated report, so as to implicate the Minister of Finance.
Another biased and fabricated claim of misappropriation of funds concerns the transfer in 2005 from GoSS Ministry of Finance and Economic planning to Western Equatoria State. This report does not reflect the actual credit advice from the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS). During the period of time quoted by Mr. Nvue, Hon. John Dabi was not yet the Minister of Finance but was serving with the Sudan Basic Education Program in Maridi after having completed a similar duty in Rumbek with UNICEF/OLS. The people of Western Equatoria State need clarification from Hon. Phillip Nvue on this matter.
These examples show how the report by Philip Nvue was biased against the Western Equatoria State Minister of Finance Mr. John Dabi.
It is worth knowing the background of Phillip Nvue. During the Liberation struggle Western Equatoria was 100% under control and loyal to the SPLA/M. At that time Philip Nvue was in refuge in Britain and contributed absolutely nothing to the liberation struggle. In that time in Britain Mr. Nvue hide away from all contacts with Western Equatorian citizens as well as all South Sudanese. He only came following the signing of the CPA in 2005 and was nominated to GoNU assembly representing Western Equatoria State in Khartoum. Due to the fact that he did not have an opportunity to practice corruption in the Government of national Unity – GoNU, he left his position in Khartoum and came back to the state and stayed with Governor at Home. It is a known fact that Mr. Phillip Nvue was once a self centered Commissioner in Yambio and did not deliver the required services to WES communities thirty years ago, which led to his asylum seeking to UK after failure and rejection by the masses.
It is clear that Mr. Phlip Nvue motive is to entice the Governor of Western Equatoria State to appoint him as the Minister of Finance for the State so that he can campaign and run for elections. Since the suspension of the Minister of Finance, Philip Nvue has been the illegal acting Minister of Finance for WES until now. This proves beyond doubt, why Phillip Nvue was alleging false accusations against Finance Minister John Dabi so as to remove him and take control of the Ministry in order to pave way for his ill-intentions. How can an accuser be the judge of the same case as shown by the case of Phillip Nvue and John Dabi? Who knows the political colors of Phillip Nvue? The people of Western Equatoria State do not like to compromise the history of Western Equatoria and the role of its people in during the noble struggle for justice.
On the other hand Hon. John Dabi joining Western Equatoria State Government was a welcomed decision by the masses and in particularly the Youth of WES because they knew him as someone who worked and mobilized the Youth at the grassroots during the days of struggle behind the SPLA/ controlled areas providing education to the displaced communities in Nimule, Panyagor, Rumbek, Malualkon, Nuba Mountains and Maridi. It is also a well known fact that the Government of WES has been doing superbly in terms of accountability under the leadership of John Dabi as Minister of Finance. They have further made considerable achievement in developmental aspects and have also printed over 1000 copies of the CPA and they are all distributed to the counties. Among others they printed copies of President Kiir photos on T-Shirts and have widely distributed them so that people begin to see who their leader is. Hon. Dabi commendable work could have landed him a post in GOSS but instead he chose to go to grass roots to serve his people. This is why the masses in WES respect and support Minister John Dabi.
Furthermore, the allegation against Western Equatoria – Finance Minister, H.E. John Dabi is a character deformation and that can easily turn away a huge number of qualified professional young people who are nationalistic, and aspiring to come back and support their government. Western Equatoria and southern Sudan at large lose its qualified skilled personnel who can implement the government plans effectively by delivering services to the needy community. Hon. John Dabi who has for years supported the SPLA and worked for many International NGOs and UN with responsibilities over millions of dollars is one the finest young emerging SPLM leaders who are well known for their integrity and nationalism. It is irritating to see some elements of the corrupt old guard attempting to tarnish his image for personal interest and because Hon. Dabi is loved by the community and known as the potential future leader of the area.
It is no surprise then the decision of the Governor of Western Equatoria to suspend the Minister of Finance based on wrong and fabricated information may be a continues practice in his government and as such the State may easily fall back into a state of instability. He has only been looking for ways to blackmail those he wants to remove. Already he has come with similar allegation against the Deputy Governor, the Minister of Education, The Minister of Agriculture, to mention a few.
The people of Western Equatoria in particular, and the people of Southern Sudan at large, would like to be sure that corruption does not creep to any of the Southern States. Millions of Southern Sudanese lost their lives in the struggle for justice so corruption should not bleed the remaining people of Southern Sudan anymore. Dangerous and corrupt opportunists like Phillip Nvue should not be allowed to trade cheap politics in their lust for making quick money in the young Government of Southern Sudan at the expense of the poor masses.
It is worth noting further that currently the newly appointed Governor Abujohn whose age is over 80 years old is telling people at his house that he came to collect money for his funeral. As prove, he has frozen all the accounts of the State with effect on 21st 11. 2006. How can government,, ministries, hospitals, schools, counties etc, operate without money? SSCPA Watch believes that the newly appointed Governor has no interest of serving our people and Southern Sudan at Large. In the process of freezing the signatories of all the states accounts any thing could happen. WES State money could be diverted by the mandated authority and then blame the innocent ministers as is already happening. We would like to draw the attention of Lt. Gen Slalva Kiir, President of the Government of South Sudan President of these recent unfolding events in WES following his recent appointment of the new Governor without consultation.
Philip Zamba is South Sudanese citizen currently living in the US. You can reach him through [email protected]