Bakosoro visits Maridi county for first time as Western Equatoria governor
October 13, 2010 (MARIDI) – On Wednesday Western Equatoria state’s Maridi county was visited by Col. Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro for the first time as governor of the state.
Baskoro, who visited the county once campaigning as an independent gubernatorial candidate won the hotly contested election in April.
He was the only independent gubernatorial candidate to defeat a member of south Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
Seven miles outside Maridi town center, the governor was received by the commissioner of Maridi county Ugino Sete.
Students and youth also greeted him chanting: “The Bright Star and first Democratic elected Governor of WES.”
Addressing the crowd that came to hear him, Bakosoro said he was, “thrilled and highly impressed with the warm welcome depicting love and political maturity by the people of Maridi.”
The visit was aimed to show Bakosoro’s appreciation to the people of Maridi for electing him as governor.
“Elections are over, therefore people should forgive and forget the past differences engraved during the elections as people prepare to host and make history in the coming self- determination exercise due [in] Jan[uary] 2011,” said the governor.
“We are approaching the referendum; therefore people must turn up for registrations and must vote, to determine the fate of southern Sudan which is a lifelong decision making for the people of southern Sudan” said Bakosoro.
He cautioned the citizens of Maridi county against racial and tribal discrimination. The motto of his government, he said, is the unity of the people of western Equatoria.
Bakosoro also encouraged Maridians to respect the newly appointed commissioner as their leader and cooperate with him towards the development of the county.
Despite being the last state in south Sudan to establish an anti-corruption commission, Col. Bakosoro reiterated his governments zero tolerance against corruption.
Regarding the illegal transportation of teak logs, the governor called upon the commissioner and the chiefs of Maridi county to “stop the illegal logging of teak trees by the pirates who cheat the local people” of the state’s resources.
“I hereby declare that unnecessary transportation of teak logs must be stopped and any interested person should consult the county department of forestry for legal procedures and prices”.
The director of Maridi Women Association, Sarah Beneth said that the women of Maridi county were “behind the governor and will by all means cooperate with his government to work towards the development to the state.”
She urged that state government “to support women programs in the state […] especially in education and vocational trainings in order to fight idleness”.
The paramount chief of Maridi county, James Bakindo said that “the presence of the governor in Maridi county shows the first step towards unity and togetherness of the people of Western Equatoria state.”
Referring to the Juba Conference of 1947, he assured the Governor that they are not the chiefs of 1947, but the chiefs of 2010, “who with all the citizens of the County will vote for separation in the forth coming referendum for the Freedom of Southern Sudan”
However, the paramount chief requested the governor follow up promises made by the President of the south, Salva Kirr Mayardit, the Kings and Chiefs Conference held in Bentiu on 18 May 2010, where he said 10 young men would be trained as cabinets of the chiefs in the payams and bomas [localities].
“He is the governor and we are respectful of the office of the governor,” Bakindo told Sudan Tribune.
The visit was marked with a colorful march by the organized forces comprised mostly of the southern army the SPLA, Joint Integrated Units of SPLA and the Sudan Armed Forces and various school pupils from Maridi.
Since he became governor of Western Equatoria, Maridi is the fourth county to be visited by the Bakosoro after, Tambura, Nzara and Ibba respectively.
This is the governor intends to visit all the ten counties of the state to extend his warm gratitude for their efforts and trust bestowed upon him and to spread awareness of the message of the south’s independence referendum.
It is widely believed that the south will vote for separation in the poll.
(ST)
Shadrack Nuer Machut
Bakosoro visits Maridi county for first time as Western Equatoria governor
Dear Western Equatorians.
I would like to say thank you for your peaceful commitment in the state. you had chosen an independent candidate which is an indication of democracy.
keep on and other states will copy it.