Eastern Equatoria governor says individuals to blame for SPLM failures

July 9, 2015 (TORIT) – Governor of Eastern Equaotia state, Louis Lobong, said it was not the ruling SPLM party that failed the nation, but individuals in the party. The governor was speaking in the state capital, Torit, to mark the 4th anniversary of independence of South Sudan in the occasion attended by thousands of residents.

“Mistakes made by individuals should not be looked as the failure of the political party and the government,” Lobong told the crowd on Thursday without mentioning by names the responsible individuals.

He called on masses and other political parties operating in Eastern Equatoria state in particular and South Sudan in general to join hands to help SPLM come out of “messes” to rebuild the country.

Governor Lobong however claimed his government in the state had been implementing political vision of the SPLM party, saying this had greatly helped them in achieving tangible development in the state.

Representatives from bordering countries adjacent to Eastern Equatoria state, including Kenyan Turkana governor and other local representatives from Uganda and Ethiopia attended the occasion.

Members of the international community, including the United Nations and the United States, used the occasion to urge the warring parties to end the conflict.

Catholic Dioceses of Torit petitioned president Salva Kiir and SPLM/IO leader, Riek Machar, to stop fighting in the country to leave a legacy of happiness “as they may not live for any longer soon” due to aging.

In most of the states’ counties, several people celebrated the day. In Kapoeta South, people marched along the streets to the main square in the town, where events marking the day were being held.

The occasion in Torit ended up by awarding war heroes drawn from all tribal clans in the state at freedom ground in Torit. Governor Lobong was also awarded for his excellence in maintaining peace and stability across Eastern Equatoria state.

(ST)