Can we turnaround the golden old days

By: Daniel Abushery Daniel

October 6, 2009 — Inspire me: “Optimism is an intellectual choice”. – Diana Schneider.
Since the beginning of the days, Nasir, the eastern Nuer capital was well-known for accommodating southern Sudanese refugees when ever there was a natural disaster, or a man made crisis.
For example, when the heavy floods, that hit Madding -Bor in 1960s, if I am not mistaken, many people’s from the Dinka flood affected areas fled their homeland for safer destinations especially in Nasir and Akobo, respectively.

Ultimately, those who headed to Nasir, were warmly welcome by the local chiefs and individuals as well. The flood survivors arrived along with their families, and some by themselves. But not so long after that, the new comers soon became part and parcel of Nasir town community as well as the “old Nasir” or Nour-Deang, just across the river Sobat. They were accommodated, given land to build their own homes (huts), a few milking cows, and some gorgeous girls as their wives. But above all, I, can sarcastically say that; some of the new comers were even chosen to be Chiefs, a position that is rarely given up easily to a stranger.

And so, I could say that; I grew up in a multi cultural society, made among Nuer, Shiluk, Dinka, Anyuak, Murle, and Arabs. Subsequently, Nasir Intermediate School (NIS), which was the only highest learning institution in Eastern Upper Nile, become home to students from as far as Bantiu, Akobo, Bor, Fashalla, and bibor. Again every one lived together in peace and harmony, that some students from distant places spent their vacation with their school mates in Nasir, until the school re-opens.

Furthermore, during our first struggle ( Anya-nya 1), most of the training camps were opened at the border between Sudan and Ethiopia, consequently, many southerners from Bhar al Gazal and Equatoria who joined the training camps, were also welcome by the Nuer community with open arms. No one has ever heard of such disputes and hatred that are happening today. Their common goal was to fight the “Jallaba” and did so unitedly, even though most of their commanders were not all educated, and there was no such thing as PhD’s at the time.

By today standards, it would have been a miracle for those young fighters to walk thousands of miles to go buy guns and ammunition, from Congo, Central African Republic, and Uganda, by foot across the land, changing routes to avoid any interaction with government troops. The point I am driving at is that; southerners were so united at those remote times like we will never see again, which enabled them to achieve their goal of self autonomy, or the “ little government” as late Dr. John Garang used to call it, “haccoma mi taut”. As we all know that movement was headed by General Joseph Lago, from Madi, a minority tribe in south Sudan.

GOSS MANPOWER ALLOCATION SHOULD BE CHANGED!
I, remember, growing up in Nasir that most-if not all the local government’s commissioners (LGC) were all from different parts of the south: Late Gabriel Aluong from Bor, David Deng Athorbay (the current Minister of finance of Goss) from Rumbek, Martin Majot (the current office manager to president Mayrdit) from Warap, Bol Majok, from Gogrial, Clement Khamis from Equatoria, and police Chief Makalily Nyajok from Equatoria, to name a few.

Beside those officials, there was a host of civil service personnel from just about anywhere in south Sudan. But one name that stands out is the long time medical assistant, late Uncle Gordon Kuoldit (the father of Dr. John, and Dr. Hakim Gordon). To my knowledge, nobody ever complain, as to why there were these very many of them from different places.

Hence, what I am trying to address here is, to appeal to President Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Chairman of the Sudan people Liberation movement (SPLM) and president of the government of south Sudan (GOSS) to consider a random appointment of the heads of the states and public service personnel, all across the South. Certainly, such policy will not only help in the reduction of tribal sensitivities that are happening today, but it can also minimize corruption. It’s time to go back to the old system that has proved to work beautifully.

And finally, the persisting question is: is it the civilization that changed people, or the politicians? Again, can we all just say enough is enough of these tribalism, sectionism, nepotism, and corruptionism, and just focus on the goals that will lead us to self-determination, to be or not to be?.

Let turn around to the golden old days, and say; YES WE CAN.

The author is a Criminal Justice graduate, (WIU) Phx, Former employee of Unity Bank, Juba – Sudan, and. Can be reached at [email protected], or [email protected].