By Daniel A. Daniel
The phrase said: “I, and my brother against our cousin and with him against a stranger." Unknown source.
July 20, 2010 (SSNA) — The current state of affairs in South Sudan is troubling to very many of us who care very deeply about the future of our young nation. It’s an undeniable fact that the internal crisis facing Southerners like corruption, tribalism, nepotism, just to mention but a few are alive and well, and it would take some honest efforts from Southerners from all walks of life to eradicate them for good.
However, those problems shouldn’t be a cause to betray the South, because South is bigger than any problem, and I would hope that we can all look beyond these problems until we reach our destiny. We have yet to cross into the other side of the river safely, instead of eating the boat while we are in the middle of nowhere.
Hence, let’s make no mistake about it, there have been some mistakes made by the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) that should to be fixed accordingly. But this is not the right time for judgment and turning against one another. It will only benefit the enemy. We have seen some true Southerners tie-up their belts, and some were even starving to death in Southern Sudan, but going to collaborate with the so-called Arab elites in Khartoum was not an option for them.
Again, the time is simply critical to be dwelling on our minor differences between brothers and sister, if you will. There always going to be differences of opinions, anyway, but have to stay focus, and we have to remind ourselves of the fact that we have just signed an agreement with a devil that doesn’t respect its signature. Evidently, our freedom is never going to be handed to us in a golden plate, but we have to continue fighting until the big day emerges.
Furthermore, even some of those Southerners who defected to join hands with NIF/NCP party against their brothers and sisters, at least some of them have come to realize that the history will not forgive them. Instead, they are now re-joining up with their brothers and sisters in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and other political parties in South Sudan.
Nevertheless, as I have always stressed in previous writings that our government officials are not saints or angles. They are human beings who are subjected to fall short and make mistake, but don’t we all make mistakes of our own? Yet, I’m not however suggesting that those leaders should be given a free pass, but we in the media must criticize them as constructively as possible. There is no room for negative or destructive criticism that seemed to engulf the media outlets in the South.
We can do better than that.
But let me come to my point. It’s a wise man who knows when the time has come, and Engineer Charles Kassanga is a wise man. A co-founder of the SPLM-DC. Mr. Kassanga has been reported to have resigned his position as the Secretary General of the party of Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin. Although I don’t want to be judgmental, but I think he has made the right decision for him personally and for the South as a whole.
Engineer, Kassanga is well-known as a devoted southerner who loves his country, and by taking this heroic step, history will never forgets him.
And so, Engineer Charles, we appreciate this courageous move you have made to resigned from the so- called SPLM-DC party, to join hands once again with your brothers and sisters in SPLM main stream party at this critical juncture in the history of our nation. We all need one another as we determine our fate. The choices are crystal clear, either an ugly unity of whole Sudan, or a beautiful secession of South Sudan nation in January, 2011 referendum.
We salute you, we are proud of your patriotic decision, and we welcome you to your rightful place among your beloved people of South Sudan.
Additionally, I also like to add my voice to those who are appealing to our brother Dr. Lam Akol Ajawien and the company to come back and join us in our aspiration for a free South Sudan. We call upon H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit to convene a reconciliation summit as soon as possible.
We need everybody along.
In his last visit to the United States, the late Dr. John Garang De Mabior was quoted as saying: “There are many rooms in the SPLM/A that will accommodate everybody in South Sudan." I couldn’t agree more.
Together, let’s all celebrate the independence of our new country and share the beauty of freedom. Shalom.
The author is a die-hard south Sudanese, and can be reached at [email protected] or [email protected]