GOSS President speech on Governor’s Forum was good but

By Isaiah Abraham

October 5, 2008 — Any speech by head of government carries weight or often goes with a lot of authority. Southern Sudan President since he came to power August 13, 2005 never failed to deliver a memorable or say good speech that touches issues affecting his government or generally policies of his government. His speeches are always timely and connected with daily events surrounding his administration. We have been hearing speeches of this nature on prospective policies of the government; though most of the time, they are more of reactive speeches other than retrospective. His speech writers appeared close to what an ordinary Southern Sudanese says on the street of our cities about their government and issues they are grabbling with, namely poor quality of their lives and their political future. A big cachet or mark on the side of writers for doing an excellent job for our government. People shall expect them to do the same again over and again, we are proud of our President and his team! They have brought us thus far and people shall expect them to finish the good/bad work they have started in 2005. I’m hearing that comrades Aleu and Tellar are in town (Juba) possibly reinstated full members of the party (SPLM). What a good gesture! Thank you sir for being a good listener; that move was highly welcomed; your people shall be always loyal as you are now cracking a good flavor to produce what is direly needed in your administration.

But on speech what is it that never been said and heard since GoSS came to power in the South after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) or Accord? In another word, what actually is an added value to the speeches or words of our President to his subjects since he came to power three years ago? Does his speeches make impact on government performance or what struck you most in all his speeches by the way? This is what we are trying to hypo size briefly in two angels or segments. One is the fact that even at this point more need to be done on the same to spice up those speeches other than just play them to the public and disappears. There are problems the head of our government must understand as he delivers his speeches as a leader. As stated above, he ought to be more pre-emptive in his speeches other than reactive as this is the norms in his speeches. But also his speeches are purely devoid of legal ligament, a source of strength that could have bound together political and administrative. What is terribly lacking moreover right now is not good talks or ideas from anywhere but mechanism to make those noble ideas a reality. For example if the President shout the loudest about zero tolerance to corruption when there is no legal grounds to enact that statement then he is fooling no one. However, nothing is wrong in our President speeches at all, only a bit of translation of those ideas in to actuality. Everything is in place and if we insist to say that isn’t his business to get down to details then we shall make speeches only to end up at our hands as we clap. He must get involve personally to work of his own mouth.

Let’s prod further or get to slice this man called Kiir. The head of our government is undoubtedly a disciplinarian or perfectionist who never permits a blame to stick on him. He makes sure that he’s right and always right even if that isn’t necessarily the case. That is a good quality. Looking to this trait compares to his governance style since he came to power, there is no major shift or changes whether in speeches or leadership culture; he remains above issues as blame games swirl along his lieutenants, Governors or Ministers. Whenever there is an issue, his cards are ever close to his chest not risking anything until the dust comes down or near to his office. That is delegation not abdication, take it like that. It has its good taste. He trusts his ministers and never disturbs them on whatever decision they are making. His relationship with the ministers is through speeches, other than this he opted to stay off handed. The Governors and the Ministers do their jobs with only parliament over their shoulders. Somehow this is an advantage or disadvantage to his administration. For the past three years we have seen this and could faithfully squarely judge positively or negatively, whether this style is in place for our nation or do we need high handedness.

The spice up am talking about above or clear cut between political speeches and that of the governance through legal connection is this: The head of our government needs to follow through what he has been saying in his speeches. His subjects or juniors never put to use what their boss says or advises (directed). He needs to make sure that whatever that comes out of his mouth is translated down to its intended purpose. Our people can’t afford to wait for change when those who are responsible for that change aren’t taking that change physically visibly. Actions after talking must accompany his speeches otherwise it would be meaningless making statements that end up not being implemented.. His speeches furthermore need no other than him to start effected them, rather than others to do it. He must set an example of fighting tribalism and nepotism from his own office and security aides surrounding him. He has started though as Martin Majut is likely going to be outside the circle after his Office became an embarrassment! Wish him well in his new assignment.

The follow through on the other hand means using his mandate as head of our government through sound legal means or powers to make things work. If it means taking 100 times presidential decrees a day, so be it. But before going public with his decrees he must do his proper home work with his special team and advisors. This could help in many ways in case of backlash coming out from any decision or decree. In fact much work lies ahead and it’s upon our government through its leadership to race against time and harm. They got to keep focus but shy from cult of celebrity or beny. Liberators or freedom fighters or revolutionaries interest come last after having realized what they have been struggling for. This time of peace should have devoted entirely to hard work. Leaders must show it first before they expect others to do it; nothing that comes out without conscious effort. Eritrean and Rwandese Presidents are key leaders at the moment who are ahead when it comes to good governance. No one however underestimates challenges faced by our leaders or the small government in Juba, the leaders are doing their best only if they keep on adjusting and learning on what is that best to the people. We should have done more by now because we need literally anything and the opportunity to do it is right here.

But what was really in the Presidential speech when he closes 6 Governors Forum in Juba last week? His speech was so brief but good. The President no doubt struck chores with his people when he directed the ministry of legal affairs to gazette laws on corruption, local government, civil service, financial management and so on. ‘Direct’ in official or military term is an order. I hope these orders shall be executed forthwith. He talked about the standardization of Public Service through Public Service Reform Program and also an over all need to decentralize the entire system. I like the way he gives credit or token of appreciation to his subordinates when it’s due! Questions? Who is going to lead him to make everything there to happen? What different would it make to avoid the repeat of 200 days program or speech of 2007? Is his legal chief (Hon. Michael Makuei) the right person to carry out that reform? Ummm! May be its time to shake up his government because reformers aren’t there currently in his administration; there are only informers or deformers. Michael M. Hussein remains short changed after his colleague Tor Deng Mawein was accommodated and he wasn’t when they together switched side for the SPLM party. He is a reformer and a nationalist despite his alien surname. How about the Governors Forum Recommendations, where are they going to get their strength from? These recommendations are basically executive in nature yes but how do they come to light in an isolation, is parliament anything to be sought? I don’t know.

Let us look at the second angel or scenario in the speeches of the President. Whoever that separated writers from deliverers- of speeches- because of time to the later may have missed an important element of ownership and responsibility in case of blunders, backslash or power of words. Once deliverer owns writing, he/she feels it and if that happened it becomes part of him in everything he does or says. For the head of our government there have been cases like that when his speeches were full of promises (beautiful recommendations) that never came too passed. One place for example was Yei under similar agenda of decentralization. Something like Local Government Act we are talking about today was well advocated. But despite this hard lesson, the leaders are still making more promises; how do they want to be different now than they were last year? People have given this government enough time and benefit of any doubt but the government leadership must not take people for a ride.

I guess people have their hopes peg on next year general election to flash out this weakling system of few individuals or clan hood who are insulting the party that has done wonders for the people of Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountain and the Ingessina Hills. Individuals or groups of tribesmen who always think that they are the best rulers and others aren’t. SPLM was almost to be high jacked by those who cares less about tomorrow but busy to make quick and fat bank accounts when an ordinary Southerner goes to grave prematurely because of curable diseases through unclean water and lack of food due to hunger. The Governors Forum and that speech from the President has given a face lift to GoSS though it’s too earlier to celebrate. Frustration was too much. Some key leaders have been buying a meal (a plate) with $50 excluding a glass of drinks that accompanied it, when the poor goes hungry, not to afford to buy a bag of floor in that market that costs SP35. Children for those leaders were at top schools in Europe, Australia, America and South Africa, while the children of the poor are still under trees in classes; their teachers are without basic teaching training and are poorly paid. What do you think would happen after 10 years from now? Our society would be split in the middle between extreme rich and the poor. That will affect production because the rich shall be few against the majority poor.

The argument then boiled down to insensitive leadership. Why could they do such things when they should have at least deliver and still keep on with their privileges. They deserve it as our leaders and no one would be green with envy because that isn’t sensitive either. Once people give them space they are expected to do the same to their subjects; that is society with its classes (upper, middle and lower). But on Thursday at Home & Away on new promises, may be that is a beginning of new dawn for this government to deliver in its promises to take towns to villages (Counties and Payams). Hon. Minister for Finance has been given a tall order and people shall wait and see how he will react in the next few months if at all he would escape being affected by any reshuffle in the near or distant future. He deserves to go quickly! Hon. Gabriel Changson is the man for that job. He could have gone sometime this year if someone had impressed questions up on him on financial irregularities, especially the reported road construction allocation to his home state- it was reported or said, not proven! He must heed the President orders and do the necessary advances, provided that he follows the money through to the end users or activities, because the same criminals could still stretch their arms to take it to Australia and America where their children live. But again follow through won’t be enough unless may be the idea Garang started before he dies is applied. An official from Nasir could be appointed commissioner of Kapoeta South and the same is true to Bentiu, Jur, Ulu, Yei, Maridi, Manyo, Renk, Maiwot, Bor etc. Governors appointment similarly should go by who is qualified not on the basis of birth right.

But on President’s speech that was hyped such as this, I have a word to the political auctioneers: they must exercise care not to bite more than they can chew. Reform requires collective understanding and tentative approach through a refined and defined methodology. I heard something that sounds like a mission statement for the government. It’s at its initials. That is much anticipated and appreciated, but the place to do this could have been National Convention or Party Forums such Political Bureau or any organ of the National Convention dealing with leadership or governance. The time we are in should have been devoted entirely for election next year and of course services. There are critical issues to be address before reaching there and those issues should have motivated their actions. For instant, there is a pressing quest for elections and referendum laws because without them, there is nothing concrete that will come out next year or in 2011; the agreement (CPA) suggested so. People aren’t interested in slogan anymore, enough is enough with it! The environment is purely political and should be left like that.

There is disenchantment everywhere. People have waited and still want to wait but that patience is being tested. Cities or State capitals aren’t changing much except some appearances from private activities. That mirage therefore has forced others to think twice about loyalty to the party or government in power. They questioned the ability of their man in charged though there are voices that continue to suggest that he should be left to complete the interim period. The issue is what if the seat becomes sweet later or messes up too much before that time. Political time is critical however brief! Three years under the leadership of Gen. Kiir could inform decision as to whether it’s fair to go for more years under him or look for someone who is energetic, vibrant, visionary, meticulous, selfless, caring, internationally abreast with concept of governance, highly calculative, thoughtful, unifier, corrupt free, tribal fee, level headed, peace maker, democrat or liberal, developmental oriented and an achiever, simple, tested zonal commander, humble, loving, reachable, Mama Teresa, God fearing among other attributes. Did I mention his academic ladders and warms? Do we have that packed character or that complete guru in that from among us? A big yes, we are blessed! May God bless him richly!

Isaiah Abraham is a Southern Sudanese; he could be reached on [email protected].