Bahr el Ghazal governors “at odds” over support to presidential aspirants
May 15, 2015 (JUBA) – Governors from Greater Bahr el Ghazal states are at odds over who to support for South Sudan’s presidency, highlighting the internal differences within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the run up to the 2015 general elections.
Awan accused Malek of showing little interest in spearheading political campaigns to in support of the president, claiming that she has shown an interest in supporting other aspiring candidates.
“I am disappointed that I am being left to move around when actually Nyandeng should have been the one doing all these activities and then we come in with the support she need. Instead of doing that, she is supporting other candidates. This is unacceptable. She should not try to stand in these coming elections. She should leave the young ones like Achol Achier to takeover if she is not willing to support the president”, Awan reportedly said at a meeting before convening a Bahr el Ghazal regional conference.
Awan reportedly made the comments at the inauguration of the new Roman Catholic Church buildings in Warrap state’s Akon town, the home of president Kiir. Warrap’s governor Malek was apparently unaware of that Awan would attend the engagement in her state.
There were suspicions Awan had been invited by Warrap’s minister of parliamentary affairs, Achol Chier Rehan, but she denied this, saying the arrangement was made by the community, arguing it would have been “unfair” for her to dictate who was allowed to attend by the organising committee those they wanted to attend.
Minister Achol described Awan as a supportive neigbouring governor.
Sources close to the two governors claim this is the second time governor Awan has accusing governor Nyandeng of not showing enough support to the president.
However, multiple cabinet ministers in the two state governments and close allies to the two leaders have downplayed the magnitude of the difference but acknowledged governor Awan had exposed his anger.
“This was why this conference was organised. It is to bring together the leaders from this region to identify areas they would like to explore more chances, so that improvements are made. It is true governor Paul Malong [Awan] has actually been the one running here and there to ensure these states come together to discuss issues of mutual concern”, a cabinet minister told Sudan Tribune Wednesday.
The minister, who did not want to be named, claimed the lack of the political willingness on the part of Warrap state governor is due to her support of the SPLM’s secretary general, Pagan Amum, who may contest the chairmanship of the party, which is currently held by Kiir.
“Governor [Paul] Malong [Awan] is right because it is not right that the governor of the state from which the president comes shows little support. She had told many people in person her interest to support Pagan Amum. She is on a record and we know it very well. She herself told the governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal, comrade Rizik Zachariah Hassan, her interest to support Pagan. She is also on records showing that he held series of meetings with allies of Pagan Amum in Juba recently.”
However the minister said “it is her right to choose any candidate she wants. What we do not like is for some people to keep lying to the people when in fact records show that they are after something else”, he said.
“There is nothing like that. I was recently in Juba with the governor Nyandeng. The people we have met and held meetings are known personalities with close contacts with the president. We held a meeting with officials from the ministry of general education and instruction about the inter-school competition. We also held the meeting with deputy speaker of the national Parliament, comrade Daniel Awet Akot. Another meeting with intellectuals from Warrap in Juba was held at Home and Away Hotel in Juba where governor categorically stated her support to the president. And I still don’t understand why all these unfounded allegations keep coming time and again”, a cabinet minister in the government of Warrap State told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.
Another cabinet official in Warrap government, who also requested to remain anonymous said they people of Warrap do not deny support the governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal provides to the president but that he must make remarks “supported by realities and facts” instead of “trying to undermine and belittling governor Nyandeng [Malek] all the time before any public occasions” on baseless allegations.
Governor Malek is the only woman out of South Sudan’s ten state governors.
“Any utterances that he makes, particularly on so emotive subject, must be factually substantiated. The allegations should represent the realities. We know that governor provide unwavering support to the president which we appreciate very much as sons and daughters of Warrap but we also expect Governor Paul Malong [Awan] and other leaders to speak truth supported by realities and facts and not hearsay information based on unfounded allegations mainly by those who are against governor Nyandeng”, he said.
(ST)