N. Bahr el Ghazal Speaker seeks governor intervention over financial allegations

By Ngor Arol Garang

September 16, 2009 (ABYEI) — The speaker of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly, Hon. Angelo Marach Thiik today called on state governor to intervene over financial scandal allegations presented by members last week.

Last week the state parliament passed for the second time a vote of no confidence against the speaker Thiik on eleven counts related to mismanagement of the state parliament budget, lack of consultation with the leadership of the ruling party and working with an international NGO in a clear violation to the state constitution.

Speaking from Juba, speaker said the state governor is the only and last authority to firstly try and resolve all issues of concerns among members of the assembly in his or her state.

Therefore, in this case, Governor Paul Malong Awan Anei needs to immediately initiate alternative interventions to once and for all resolve issues he described as “personal grudges” with some members within the house against him.

“If you look at the list of the petitioners, you definitely get to know that it is dominated by none other than old members whose claims are more or less identical to personal grudges,” he said.

The speaker went to accuse MP Majang Ngor Kuany of plotting against him because he had requested the legislator to curb his unusual appetite for combining representative and executive offices. Kuany was also the State Director for War veteran, disabled, widows and orphans of the government of Southern Sudan commission.

“Of these members, the ring leader is Hon. Majang Ngor Kuany whom the house unanimously agreed to be dismissed last year after found serving as State Director for War veteran, disabled, widows and orphans of the government of Southern Sudan commission,” he said.

The Speaker Thiik pointed out that the state house asked the legislator to comply with the state, southern Sudan and national constitutions and to stop overlapping of mandates from different organs.

“For him he wanted to beat two birds with one stone quoting no sources to back up his insistencies,” said the speaker, adding that Kuany declined position of State director for war veteran, disabled, widows and orphans leaving him to maintain his membership in the house.

“Because of having not allowed him serve two positions, he became the father and mother of all ill daily and nights planning against my leadership. This is the person that has caused havoc in the house for long, he stressed. Before being refused serving two positions, the house was quiet and friendly, he adds.

However, Hon. Kuany, by phone from Aweil dismissed all claims against him saying the speaker resorted tarnish his “political image with fabricated, baseless and unfounded allegations.”

“I have no any personal grudges against Mr. Speaker. My being among the members does not mean I am the ring leader as Mr. Angelo is preaching, I am in the list like any member raising and wanting issues implicating him be discussed in good faith,” he commented.

Responding to allegation of wanting to hold two positions, he said, this is part of the campaign someone recruited by Speaker has launched. “There is no such thing like had wanted to serve two masters being a law maker myself. ”

“If I can do that how about civil servants, who will question them for such practice,” he posed adding that he had refused the offer before it was noticed by member in the house.

(ST)