Warrap SPLM branch calls for governor’s removal
November 10, 2013 (JUBA) – The local branch of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Warrap state has demanded for the removal of the Governor, Nyadeng Malek.
In a document seen by Sudan Tribune dated 2 November, and bearing the signature of Andrew Kueach Mayol, the Acting SPLM Chairperson in the state, 14 reasons are given as reasons why SPLM in the state had lost confidence in the Governor.
“The entire SPLM leadership in the state has withdrawn confidence from Nyandeng Malek, Governor of Warrap,’’ read the document.
The document added: ‘‘Nyandeng must go and a caretaker must be appointed to unite people of Warrap.”
In the 2010 elections for the Governorship, the SPLM leadership in the state endorsed Nyadeng as its official candidate.
The conflict between the Governor and SPLM officials in the state stem from a cabinet reshuffle she made on 30 October.
SPLM officials asked her to submit the names of the new appointees for vetting before the party secretariat but the Governor declined and went on to swear in her new cabinet without vetting from either the SPLM secretariat or the state assembly, fuelling a conflict between her and her local party branch.
Subsequently two motions were moved in the state assembly. One demanding that the Governor be summoned before the house and another demanding that a letter asking for her removal from office be written to the ruling party.
The two motions are still before the state assembly for deliberation. A decision on the motions is likely to be reached between today [Monday] or Tuesday before the assembly goes on recess on Wednesday this week.
The Warrap Acting SPLM Chairperson, Andrew Kueach Mayol, also claims the officials appointed by the Governor are ‘‘unpopular’’ in the state and will not be able to mobilise votes for the SPLM in the 2015 general elections.
“The next election needs a lot of work to be done which means people appointed should be cadres of significant influence in their communities. But this cabinet is fully dominated by unpopular people who loiter in towns. They are not known in their constituencies. This was why we called for scrutiny,” Mayol explained to Sudan Tribune last week by phone from the state capital, Kuacjok.
Mayol was dropped by the Governor from his position as Advisor on Peace and Reconciliation, but the Acting SPLM Chairperson denies that is the reason why he is rallying against his former boss. Instead Mayol argues that he is merely representing the position of the SPLM leadership from the six counties.
“I do not represent myself. It was the decision of the entire SPLM leadership from six counties. So all these claims are unfounded and unjustifiable, if it was because of me, why not consult other members”, he asked, referring to the alleged failure by the Governor to consult other party officials.
But Joseph Anei Madoor, Governor Malek’s Director for political affairs and public Relations, said his boss cannot be removed from office by the wishes of an individual.
Madoor said the letter written by the Acting SPLM Chairperson withdrawing support from the Governor had been condemned.
“All the six counties of the state have decided to condemn and stand against the move made by deputy SPLM chairperson of writing a trust withdrawal letter against the governor,’’ he told Sudan tribune.
‘‘Communities of the state have named Governor Madam Nyandeng Malek as an architect of peace whose trust vested upon her cannot be withdrawn by just an individual politician but by the populace who overwhelming elected her as an exceptional SPLM party nominee,” Madoor said in defence of the Governor.
According to Madoor, the Governor has the right to appoint anybody to her cabinet. He also said there was no need for consultation of the SPLM secretariat as most of the new cabinet ministers appointed by Governor Nyadeng are cadres of the SPLM.
(ST)