N. Bahr el Ghazal ex-speaker retains his constituency seat

October 23, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Members of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly today confirmed that former Speaker, Hon. Angelo Marac Thiik, has retained his constituency seat in the assembly.

“He lost only the position of speaker but not his membership as representative of his constituency,” said Hon. Santino Deng Maluil, adding appreciated the way Hon. Angelo Thiik humbly represented himself at swearing in ceremony of his successor yesterday.

“All of us at the ceremony yesterday were impressed at his speech pledging support and collaboration with his successor,” he said, stressing that Aweil still trust him to do well at his current capacity as member of the assembly and in other assignments in the future.

On Wednesday 21, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly, sworn in Lt. Col, Majang Ngor Kuany as new Speaker replacing Angelo Marac Thiik following a series of parliamentary battles relating to financial scandal allegations against him by members of the assembly.

Eleven counts and charges including allegations that he works for Christian Solidarity International besides being Speaker topped members’ resolutions.

However, CSI, amid heightened parliamentary tension in September 2009, denied working with Speaker as their permanent employee or consultant but admitted working for them during war epoch.

In a separated interview with him, the former speaker said that he respects the decision taken by the members if they think that was the best way to settle allegations. They saw qualities of a good leader when I was elected in 2005 as their first speaker after the CPA, he adds.

“This trust and confidence should have continued instead of allowing themselves be used to settle long and known personal differences that exists;” he said adding that his removal hold nothing substantial to argue.

“If the allegations were genuine, why rush to removal instead of settling issues made at first in the competent and independent court as I have always requested,” he said.

He also said swearing in of the new speaker is not the end of story unless judicial system is fully corrupt to define and clear “such defamatory allegations full of nothing but intention to grab power.”

He continued to say that he has nothing against the new speaker as he had already assured him at the swearing in ceremony but vowed to follow up his removal with those he alleged to be behind his removal from the chair.

The speaker repeatedly reiterated that someone felt threatened and insecure if he sees him holding such sensitive position adding if he were holding less important position, there would have been no such troubles emitting from the same institution.

(ST)