Lakes state’s governor nominees prepare to contest in April voting
By Manyang Mayom
January 18, 2010 (RUMBEK) – Candidates are preparing to contest for the governorship of Lakes state after the nominations were finalized, with the state’s ruling SPLM party welcoming the nomination of Engineer Chol Tong Mayay.
The April 2010 election is the first in the history of the state government, which was founded in 2005. It will also mark the departure of the incumbent governor Lieutenant General Daniel Awet Akot, who was not selected by SPLM to stand for the governorship again.
Lakes state intellectuals in Rumbek had been awaiting the announcement over the Southern Sudan Television of the SPLM Political Bureau’s decision on its candidate in Lakes. They had to decide among five nominees from the state during a deadlocked discussion at Home-Away hotel in Juba.
The deliberations in Juba brought about the full nominees’ list, which was officially announced by Secretary General Cde Pa’gan Amum Okiech.
Eng. Chol Tong Mayay was decided on reportedly based on his ambition for developmental issues. “This is a clear green-light that Cde Chol had to win the nomination process, as well as the fact that he is prosperous man who keeps his promise,” said an official who would prefer not to be named.
In the view from Lakes state’s streets, some welcomed the nomination saying that it a good turn for SPLM to pay back Lakes state’s properties through Chol’s nomination. “Actually we must stand behind this gentlemen to bring complete change in this state,” said Makur Majok Ater, a businessman in Rumbek market.
Malou Manyiel added that “If the leadership of Lakes State is to be headed by young people like Engineer Chol Tong Mayay who is the most competent man in terms of development and welfare of the people, then there will be no hunger, corruptions, nepotism and tribal fights in Lakes State. He was the last man to join Lt-Gen. Daniel Awet Akot’s cabinet in 2008 and became the first man to build the Ministry of Agriculture where he was appointed as minister. Lakes State has so many resources but need people who can manage and invest in it so that its people can benefit from their resources.”
Eng. Mayay comes from Rumbek Central County at Amongping Payam located in the eastern part of Rumbek Central County. He is a member of the Dinka tribe, and within that he is part of a small section of Panyon in the sub-clan of Papmany clan. He earned a Masters in Civil Engineering at a Russian university. He is married to three wives with three son and four daughters.
He was officially appointed in March 2008 by the Government of Southern Sudan in a presidential decree to serve in Lakes state government as state minister of Agriculture and Animal Resource. In 2009 he was shifted to his present post as minister of Physical Infrastructure in Lakes state.
The SPLM candidate for the governorship in Lakes state affirmed that “I will just base my work on development, peace, freedom and justice — this is what I wanted to do”.
In 2007, before his appointment, Mayay had made a surprise move to contest with Lt. Gen Daniel Awet Akot for the position of SPLM chairperson in the state, but later he was convinced to omit himself and to allow Honorable Daniel Deng Monydit to contest with Daniel Awetdit for the SPLM chair during the formation of SPLM congresses at all ten states level of Southern Sudan.
After this decision Awet in 2008 gained victory against Deng Monydit, and later Mayay was appointed as agriculture minister despite that the position had hitherto belonged to the National Congress Party in Rumbek.
The African National Congress – Sudan (ANC) in Lakes state has officially nominated her candidate Mr. Gabriel Kuc Abyei to contest for the governorship with SPLM in the 2010 April election nationwide.
However, the United Democratic Front (UDF) declined to announce its candidates for the coming 2010 April Election. The party’s official spokesman affirmed that its party will not contest with SPLM at the moment but UDF is well prepared to contest in 2011.
(ST)