Western Equatoria governor welcomes reinstatement SPLM membership
April 1, 2012 (JUBA) – Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, governor of Western Equatoria has welcomed his reinstatement into the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
He was voted South Sudan’s best governor by a group of religious leaders, in January.
Seven high ranking officials independently contested gubernatorial seats in Upper Nile, Unity, Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria and Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Jonglei states.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Saturday from Yambio, the state capital, minister of information Gibson Bullen Wande, described Bakosoro’s reception upon returning from Juba, following the news of reinstatement into the SPLM as “cheerful” and described the turn out as “huge”.
In a separate interview Bakosoro said he was “impressed by the reception” accorded to him by the people of the state on Saturday and said that he would always aim to put the interests of his people above everything else he does.
Wande said Bakosoro’s loyalty to the SPLM had been unwavering. Bakosoro fought in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army while they were a rebel movement fighting the forces of Khartoum, before they formed a political wing, which now governs South Sudan; the SPLM.
Wande explained that Bakosoro had never wanted to leave the SPLM but had done so out of respect for the wishes of the people of the state.
Bakosor said that he will work with the SPLM branch office to mobilise members of the party to conduct a state-wide campaign to raise resources from registration, subscriptions and monthly membership fees from all members of the party.
“What happened during the last elections should not repeat itself. We had people who contested without SPLM cards. We also had people rushing to pay accumulated arrears during the elections. This should not happen. I will work with all members to ensure that each member pays his or membership fees on a monthly basis”, he said.
Anne Itto, deputy secretary general of the SPLM, in a televised statement on South Sudan Television on Saturday read resolutions from the five-day deliberations of the National Liberation Council, announcing that the summit has resolved to adopt policies that will enhance intra-party democracy and examine and review the SPLM performance in the April 2010 general elections.
“In the spirit of unity and reconciliation within the party, SPLM members who resigned and contested as independent candidates during the April 2010 are pardoned and welcomed back to the SPLM”, announced Itto.
(ST)
