Mr. Amum, watch out!

By Isaiah Abraham

February 11, 2010 — The SPLM Secretary General Mr. Pagan Amum Oketch is in crisis from within his own party; something not unexpected given his sharp tongue as well as his rising popularity among young generation of that party. The man is marked (besieged one) by clique with whom he had disagreed on sensitive matters of related to election and power. There are three areas here. He is left now to carry his own cross from people he thought could be there to give him a shoulder. This change of heart from his bosses and erstwhile supporters didn’t just come out from nowhere. He was quoted (his interview on the 14/01/2010) of having sided with the camp that publicly and privately call for Mr. Kiir to surrender his uniform before elections. Ooooh! Events have taken over this case, but suspicious and theories linger on against one strong pillar of the SPLM party.

This is how it began: the SPLA laws are clear about election procedures for an army officer, he cautioned. Kiir team swiftly wasted no time to brush aside the widely publicized position of the Secretary General on Kiir uniform, by crafting retirement thing. Mr. Amum refused to buy that claim, but Dr. Luka and Judge Michael with the company managed at best to portray Mr. Amum as pliable in the face of what they see as stretched hands of the ‘enemy’ in the succession battle in the South. He seemed then to had gone underground.

The second area Mr. SG is fighting it alone is the current logjam known as the SPLM independent candidate issue, the fresh front whose outcome might make or break the party. The big two are believed to be blowing hot and cold at the same time, something the official party candidates have started to quiz. The entire party is split in the middle on this matter. With the President and his Deputy sending mixed signals to party members at the grass roots about official position of the party.

There are those who say they are blessed by one of the big two while the other camp of the official candidates, are relishing ,waiting with their finger crossed for an ultimatum given by the SG-that will expire this Saturday- to those who may refuse to support the official candidate of the party. Confusion has creeped in, as the Upper Nile State is slipping away to other political parties behind the created crisis by the Political Bureau. You can imagine how others would prefer sacrificing Mr. Amum in the hot of things so to face their faces.

Third, is the accusation by other political parties of intimidation and harassment by Mr. Amum foot soldiers on the ground. The Chairman of the party met with a few on Monday on the same. It has been known that key politicians from other political parties (particularly Southern political parties) are heard making hue for charges that are disputable. The Lanya and Terekeka incidences we all know from last month are largely isolated if we are not just crying for the sake of looking for escape goat strategy, just to chip in for the SPLM. Once people refuse you, they do it with a purpose.

Dr. Martin Ellie Lomure hence ought to desist from insinuating our people defense forces (the SPLA) in all his future remarks! Dr. Martin, your Miraya FM interview on Sunday in reply to a caller in Wau (Albino) was contemptuous at best for unwarranted argument raised by that caller. Politicians, especially prominent like you, who know how we arrived to this stage in our political journey should be the last to talk back stuff against our men in uniform or the SPLM party. The SPLM yes has its shortcomings but at the moment, may be we should rally behind it until God opens a way next year. Dr. Martin, sir, you have been brilliant and star in GOSS, don’t lose hope working together with the SPLM. Mr. Amum after all isn’t a fun of traveling or has time for issues at states levels. He (Amum) might be innocent. Take Mr. President and his Deputy words as they are; the SPLM I guess have no interest of obstructing the activities of the other political parties. The party knows others won’t make it.

Mr. Amum, never get weary because of individuals, the case of Southern Sudan is too much a problem that requires perseverance in the heats of perceived and potentials troubles. You softened your stand that had allowed Mulana Abel to kill the entire argument using clever (not legal) argument on the same. However, discipline is fine, but be careful, others might take advantage of your stand and do more harm to the party. Don’t fire SPLM independent candidates, the people of Southern Sudan will do it. Strengthen your party in there and do what it takes to win the 10 states gubernatorial seats, all state seats and the Southern Assembly. I believe SPLM will sweep all seat if you do engage with states on your officials candidates. Independent candidates will lose except one; she is a staunch SPLM member and will still be around. SPLM shall win!

Isaiah Abraham lives in Juba; he can be reached at [email protected]