New Wau governor rejects description of “a madman”
June 27, 2016 (JUBA) – The newly appointed governor of Wau state, Andrea Mayar Achor, has quickly rejected a description by an angry religious leader who referred to him as “a madman.”
The new state has however witnessed heavy fighting inside its capital, Wau, between armed group and the national army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).
Andrea Mayar Achor, the new governor, told Sudan Tribune on Monday that it was unfortunate a religious leader took a political path to attack him by calling him a “mad man” instead of praying for calm and order to return to the area.
“I have heard the preaching and I have nothing to say about it. I can only say my brother was angry and wanted to relieve anger,” governor Achor told Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview from Wau town, the administrative headquarters of the new state.
“But of course it was unfortunate that he did not pray for this situation to return to normal and for God, as the man of God, to bless the leadership to work together to thrush out whatever difficulties they are trying to address for our country to be in peace and love,” he said.
The governor was reacting to a section of a preaching at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Juba on Sunday by apostolic Administrator, Rocco Taban, who spoke about the events which took place in Wau.
The emotionally charged religious leader directed his fury at the government for allegedly masterminding violence in the town and for removing a new governor, who attempted to calm the situation but in a manner the local command interpreted to mean an incitement of the soldiers against them.
The former governor allegedly accused the army command in the new state of having embezzled soldiers’ salaries, resulting in the troops involving in robbery and burglaries in town as a way to make a living.
“And the governor who was protecting people in Wau, who was loved by the people in Wau, General Elias Waya, was removed by the presidential decree and being replaced by a madman,” said the catholic apostolic Administrator Rocco Taban in reference to the new governor Achor.
He also said South Sudan is being ruled by leaders who are “devils and criminals.”
The utterances by the senior church leader indicated the level of frustration citizens and religious leaders have over the ongoing deteriorating economic and security situations in the country.
(ST)