N. Bahr el Ghazal chiefs vow not to elect bad-mannered politicians
December 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Local chiefs from the Southern State of Northern Bahr el Ghazal have vowed not to cast their votes for politicians they described as bad-mannered leaders who pay less attention to development of the region.
At the heart of the matter are questions of local versus party authority and loyalty. Chief Deng Mamer, during a discussion with William Mou, an aspiring candidate for a Juba parliamentary seat, said that the CPA provision which gives the Southern Sudan president prerogatives to appoint has denied the state development because appointed leaders regard Juba as the powerful decision-making center.
The chief said that appointed politicians’ minds are fixed to Juba because appointments and removals are made in the regional capital. “When they talk to us, they first look at us with scornful eyes and oral assaults questioning our role in local affairs,” he added, commenting that chiefs provide first-hand information relating to community issues.
He said during the war, chiefs were everything, providing transport, feeding soldiers and mobilizing the local population to contribute humans to sacrifice their lives against the ordeals wrought by successive Khartoum-based regimes.
“When peace came, particularly when the death of John Garang robbed the region of a visionary leader, we, local leaders, realized something strange in the system, because it has been infiltrated by ‘people of good wind’ [opportunists]”.
William Mou Deng, the aspiring candidate, is a young Episcopal Church of Sudan Pastor. He was reportedly told by Chief Mamer that traditional leaders will only welcome politicians who have a clear proposal and a vision for the development of the state ahead of the 2010 general elections.
“We do not need to make any mistake by giving our support to individuals who do not recognize the importance or role traditional leaders play in managing local affairs,” he said.
“As chiefs, we will only receive politicians with intentions full of serious ideologies of development,” he added stressing that 2010 should not be a year for politicking but rather one for developing the state. He said all need to work with the government to achieve economic development.
Similarly, Chief Dut Rual from Yargot Payam is reportedly quoted as saying traditional leaders will not tolerate leaders who have started campaigning without developmental promises and advised the local population to be alert and refuse to be used by some politicians.
In proverbial statement, Chief Rual, said “when two elephants fight, grass suffers. In this case, it is the poor Aweil population who will suffer if our politicians decide not to work together and make the interest of their people top priority”.
“So, for the sake of the poor Aweil citizens, let us all put our heads together as this is the only way we can enhance economic development,” he advised.
Both chiefs assured their support to shining candidates and government saying that traditional leaders strive to work with the government if they are to achieve development in their chiefdoms.
“Let us love and embrace one another if we are to move forward because politics of denial will not take us anywhere as a state apart from bringing distrust and chaos,” he said.
(ST)
M.Cool.J
N. Bahr el Ghazal chiefs vow not to elect bad-mannered politicians
Bravo Chiefs Dut Rual of Yargot payam and Mammer!
You such are the big heads we badly need in our community who are developmentally thirsty and look for the best leaders who will not betray us to the arabs later.
I encourage you to reach your counterparts in all parts of the south so that you have the vision because there ,are those ones who are sleeping in this time of election.
The politicians do not know that you are very powerful when it comes to who to lead in the community.Keep it up!
Jupiter Maguangdit
N. Bahr el Ghazal chiefs vow not to elect bad-mannered politicians
Well done Chiefs, Deng Mamer and Dut Rual. You have proved yourselves as true community leaders in NBeG State. However, I am afraid that elections will take place in 2010 as your leaders like Malong may fear of losing their positions during elections and therefore they may create excuses so as to stay longer in power. Some people have already prefered going back to war as the only means of keeping power as well as enjoying public money.
Dear Chiefs, Deng Mamer and Dut Rual, you have started well with William Mou but don’t let yourselves be fooled by the politicians who build huge offices for themselves in the towns and claim that they have developed the state. Those offices are for them not for normal people. Please tell them that you need hospitals, schools and security for your people down there.
All the best.
Kur
N. Bahr el Ghazal chiefs vow not to elect bad-mannered politicians
The chiefs are the eyes of the community. Let them watch out against those politicians who want power to rule with no regard for the needs of the people. Such politicians should be denied the chance to continue with their double-standard attitudes and cheating. What we need are the servants of the people not the lords who want to suck our blood and leave us half dead in the desert.
Kur