Northern Bahr el Ghazal Governor denies inciting parliamentary dispute
June 23, 2012 (JUBA) – Paul Malong Awan Anei, Governor of South Sudan’s state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal on Saturday denied news reports quoting the Speaker of the state parliament accusing him as being the “architect” of an ongoing parliamentary dispute.
Aguer told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that the normal seven day grace period which allows for members to travel from more distant locations, and the consultation between the Speaker and Governor, were not adhered to.
He claimed that the opening on Friday June 15, was attended by 17 Members of Parliament (MP), four of whom were on official leave.
He denied allegations that he holds a personal grudge against the Governor, attributing the premature opening of parliament to a disagreement between the House and the Executive over the implementation of the 2011 budget.
He claimed that the House witnessed irregularities in the budget which led to a vote of no confidence against the minister of finance, Ronald Ruay Deng, who failed to answer questions about the budget.
Calling on the national government in Juba to intervene, Aguer said that the decision made by the House has become “politicised and misinterpreted” as the Governor refused to endorse the vote of no confidence against Deng.
He said he was first asked to resign at a party caucus meeting by Member of Parliament (MP) Daniel Akol Diing, who was unable to provide a list of other MPs that advocated the decision.
“This was not a motion. It was a pressure within the party, outside the parliament, because they were blaming me for allowing the vote against a minister of the same party to be conducted in the parliament, but never succeeded,” he said.
However, a statement from the office of the Governor extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday attempted to distance the him from the disagreement.
“The problem is purely a legislative matter and has nothing to do with the executive. Thus, the governor does not play any role in the process as being reported in the media. Our country is at a stage of collective contribution and unity of purpose”, the statement reads in part.
The statement, which bears the signature of the governor’s press secretary, Akol Ayom Wekdit, explains that 30 members wrote a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) branch office in the state, George Garang Achien, with a copy to the party’s chairperson, who holds another key position as governor, on April 2, demanding removal of speaker Aguer Wol Aguer.
A similar demand was made in another letter dated May 11 reportedly composed by the same MPs, called on the Speaker take leave until the charges against him were settled.
The charges, according to the release, include: maladministration in the assembly; embezzlement of Assembly funds; incapability to represent the state Assembly; and the deliberate refusal to present the state budget.
Aguer described the charges as “fabrications and unfounded”.
“The legally required quorum was not met because it opened at short notice,” he added.
However, the release from the governor’s office argued that MPs mandated the deputy speaker to take over from the speaker, claiming “the quorum on the re-opening day was 27; out of 49 with three impeached and removed and another on leave for medication abroad while another is appointed commissioner. This does not pose any question to the assembly as far legitimacy is concerned”.
(ST)