Junub Independence alone is not enough

By Butrus Ajak

If the money is eaten by a few, all the rest will go hungry, and a hungry citizen is an angry citizen” Pres. Kiir at Governors Forum, Juba.

July 28, 2012 (SSNA) — As we prepare to embrace and paying homage to war fallen mates, heroes and heroine, it worth noting Junub independence alone isn’t enough. There is much to get done. It is obvious the above quotation is congruent with what is actually playing out on the ground. We get to this in a moment. When south got independence on 9th July 2011, most of southerners if not all, were relieved. Seeing our sons and daughters in helm of power, as custodian of our own affairs was something big. Nothing was like it. Unfortunately, the then happiness is quickly pummel and dashed off by tsunami of corruption and tradition of paying less attention to issues of urgency. For instance lack of anti-craft rocket, which would have prevented massacre in Bentiu and Panthou during NCP aerial bombardment.

Exasperatingly, the SPLM comrades who I thought will bring hope to hopeless, address the issues of national building and mend the broken hearts, turned something no one had ever expected. It is a compunction they will take to grave. They took up arms to fix the so-called deformed system in Khartoum, where we were left out of loop, where we were marginalised, where we were denied basic infrastructure, where we were denied health service, where there was lack of self-expression and consumption of national resources by few amongst many other things. Why taking up the habit you determined to overhaul?

Thank goodness we have a state, but a state where common citizen are denied and deprived of their rightful right surely dooms to fail and becomes a no man’s state. Why nearly killing Deng Athuai and terrorising many other citizens you brought freedom for them? It shows beyond doubt liberation is yet to happen. My people still haven’t noticed what it is to be a citizen in one’s own country. A right denied them for so long, and the SPLM seems to even denying it the furthest. You have started at a wrong footing and it will cost the party profoundly. If election is held today, the party will lose miserably. 

The independence many of us yearned for all these years has just proven not enough. The system is convoluted with wide spread grand corruption consuming the whole nation. Needless to say, it is initiated by the ruling party the SPLM individuals. The SPLM has ruined its reputation nationally and internationally. Why bringing freedom and robs the nation of its meagre resources? Where do you leave our citizens who look up to you here? Unless some miracles happen down the track the SPLM party popularity is tarnished and is going down the drainage.  

Surely the SPLM/A managed to break the country into two, but falls short of delivering an equitable service to the people of South Sudan. They are ruling the nation as if they are leaving tomorrow. I have always been a steep supporter of the SPLM/A party given the determination it showed back in the days of revolution struggle, but I am extremely disappointed and betrayed when its splendid corruption hits the World news. 4 billion US dollar got smuggled by the few ruling individuals??? I was shocked and couldn’t just believe it. Instead of seizing the opportunity and utilize $4 billion to build the national scheme so as to meet southerners dire needs, annoyingly, few pocket it all, leaving the nation rotting in an abject poverty. Is this how we were liberated? I hope not.

As if it wasn’t enough, the burglars didn’t stop there, our men and women who dare to ask money whereabouts are hunt down and tortured severely. Is this how liberators behave? Absolutely not. These are unusual liberators.  Our common men and women must be allowed to feel at home. They must have right to question the government which governs them without intimidation. To worsen the case, president has been contradicting himself on how he approaches the smugglers lately. This leaves me with lingering doubt about my president presumption of innocence. He got to stand up for the nation, speak loud and clear who were these men and women who took the chunk of dollars. There is nothing to fear my president. You have more than 8 Million people behind you; the 75 comrades who purloined and siphoned nation’s money into individual’s account have inflicted shame and insult to the SPLM/A principles. They are no more honourable, they are thugs who deserve their names yell out. You either be with them, or with us. I suggest they must get laid off in the government positions forthwith.    

Outrageously, I had a lengthy conversation with friend of mine in South Sudan who told me a lot of people went back home when independence comes. However, they have started going back to refugee camp citing lacks of health services, insecurity, exclusion and lacks of schools for their children. For how long will our people be refugees? It is breathtaking thinking you have home and it turns out those leading the nation are hungry and angry wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Finally, my president you have to space yourself from the corrupt officials by making sure they are brought to justice and make to vomit what does not belong to them. As your quote goes “If the money is eaten by a few, all the rest will go hungry, and a hungry citizen is an angry citizen”. It is in fact the case now, citizens are frustrated and soon will erupt and spiral out of control, unless you act and act now to save your fame. Secondly, those who nearly murdered Deng Athuai need to be identified immediately or else, we, in the civil society will always remain knowing your government apparatus did it. Lastly, the SPLA soldiers who killed Mayol Kuch, the South Sudan-American citizen need to face the law and get contained so they don’t kill another one.

Butrus Ajak is a concern South Sudan citizen. He can be reached at [email protected]

Previous Post
South Sudan government should promote agriculture productivity through rural extension service
Next Post
Dinkocracy is not Jieng-centrism: Kuir Garang is wrong

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.