“I am SPLM and SPLM is me” says new governor of W. Equatoria

May 26, 2010 (TURALEI/YAMBIO) — Colonel Joseph Bangasi Mario Bakosoro, Governor of Western Equatoria State, has vowed on Wednesday to not change his SPLM membership affirming that he will not leave the party.

Shortly after taking the oath today at the state capital of Yambio, the governor talked to Sudan Tribune and said he remains an SPLM member and will serve as an SPLM governor.

“I know no other political party apart from the SPLM and will serve as an SPLM governor. I am SPLM and SPLM is me because this is my first political party having joined it as a teenager. I joined SPLA/M while young and grew from it to be a political figure,” explained Bakosoro.

Col Bakosoro was sworn in as the first elected Governor of Western Equatoria on Wednesday and promised to “begin again the work of re-branding Western Equatoria” on a day of celebration that climaxed a once-inconceivable journey for the independent candidate and his state-wide supporters.

The moment captured the imagination of much of the state as thousands flag-waving people bore witness while Mr. Bakosoro recited the oath with his hand on the Christian Bible.

Col Bakosoro was sworn in by His Justice Abraham Majur, the President of the High Court WES in the company of Maulana James Al Teib from Juba and State secretary General Hon Alfred Riruyo Ngbakogbe, the Rt Hon Speaker Edward Bukulu reportedly pledged better working relationship with state executive organs and judiciary describing relationship of the three organs of government as prerequisite to peace, stability and development in the area.

The new governor told Sudan Tribune during his interview that his candidacy “was only responding to the demands of my people of western Equatoria who repeatedly requested me to serve them at a gubernatorial post. My people have been asking me and I have also been telling the SPLM leadership about it”.

The governor added that he wasn’t hiding anything and stressed on the fact that he did not seek a gubernatorial position just to be governor but was chosen long before and President Kiir has seen his name on the list for this gubernatorial position a number of times.

“President Kiir and other senior members of the SPLM know and this is why they all cooperated with the people of western Equatoria and allowed them to choose me as their elected leader,” Bakosoro said after congratulating the President of the government of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, for respecting the choice of the people of Western Equatoria and for putting effort in the April elections.

Asked whether he has met any key figures at the SPLM political bureau regarding his membership, he said he has already met with top leaders of the SPLM shortly after the declaration of his victory and told them that he remains an SPLM member.

“I have already met and talked to senior members of the SPLM at political bureau including Chairman Salva Kiir Mayardit and his Secretary General Pagan Amum,” said Governor Bakosoro

Switching to his gubernatorial plans, he will first and foremost give high priority to the formation of an inclusive state government without political segregation to represent the interests of all people in the counties of Western Equatoria State.

“I look forward to forming an inclusive government by working together with our people to select highly qualified and capable sons and daughters of Western Equatoria who are willing to serve our people with all commitments and determinations.” said the Governor stressing that he will focus on the reconciliation and the security of the state because development plans can never be achieved if insecurity is not addressed.

On the 2011 referendum, he said “I would like all western Equatoria state citizens to remain one and the same people so that the referendum is successfully conducted in the state like the previous elections.”

The inauguration was attended by a web senior government officials and UN agencies and NGOs present in the area and was held at 11 AM in the State Assembly before delivering his speeches to the excited citizens.

Addressing thousands of WES citizens who converged at Yambio Freedom Square, Col Joseph reiterated that,” his new Government shall be Government of Unity, reconciliation love and peace to the entire WES.

Confronted by the worst insecurity situation in recent times, during his election campaign, Col Bakosoro promised to work hard with all the organized forces in cooperation with the communities of WES to stabilize the state from the insecurity of the Ambororo and Lord Resistance Army (LRA) brutality in WES.

During his speech after the inauguration, He Bakosoro sobered the celebration with a grim assessment of the state of a nation rocked by imported insecurity, lack of proper education and healthcare to all. Signaling a sharp and immediate break with the governorship of his predecessor Mrs. Jemma Nunu Kumba, he vowed to usher in a “new era of responsibility” and restore tarnished Western Equatoria ideals.

ol Joseph called upon all the community leaders, churches, chiefs to begin proclaiming the message of the referendum as soon as possible to the grassroots in order to put them in clear image of the last bit of the Compressive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005 between the North and South

The new Governor denounces all sorts of segregation amongst the ethnic tribes of WES and other tribes staying in WES calling on full participation in the development of the state and nation at
large.

As the culture, H.E Col Bangasi was dressed in Bagadi (traditional Azande cloth got from the back of a tree), with a sword, and Mambere
He further called upon the entire citizens of WES to work hard for the economy of the state not just to rely on the coming income but rather generate money for the state. “With the number of resources in the state, we should start planning to get investors in order to boost the state “added Col Joseph.

He also stressed on the issues of Education more specially girl’s Education as the Policy of the Government of South Sudan for women empowerment adding that, people should take education as the weapon against poverty in the Sudan.

He said, “there will be a law to be set by the State Assembly for Girl’s education in WES in order to avoid the drop outs of so many girls from schools due to un necessary pregnancy,” the laws shall serve penalties for the perpetrators.

Ngor Arol Garang and Richard Ruati contributed to this report

(ST)