By: Cde. Sirir Gabriel Yiei Rut
As John Enoch Powell, the British politician once remarked: “All political lives, unless they are cut off mid-stream at a happy juncture, always end in failure because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs.” That is so true in our case and yet so sad. We are experiencing catastrophic political failure and paralysis simply because of one man refusing to admit that his political life has become a burden on everyone. His political life will truly end in total failure. What a pity.
Yes, we need a new political deposition in South Sudan, but let us not be naive and expect this to be a smooth transition. The most dangerous assumption we can make is that SPLM in Juba is ready to let common sense and popular sentiment rule. Theirs is an incomprehensible insensitivity and a clear lack of moral obligation to the suffering people of South Sudan caused by their misguided policies over the last 11 years. Reshuffling the Cabinet and reframing problems will not absolve them.
My greatest fear is that we may be disappointed once more in 2018 as we were in 2013, if we all naively wait and think that we can ever accept to go into another election with the current electoral architecture in place. It boggles the mind why any opposition party would even consider contesting any by-election at this stage. There is no way out of this conundrum except together and the sooner we get talking and organizing ourselves around a coalition of all democratic forces, the better. PLP, SPLM-DC, UPDF, UDSF, SPLM-IO should think of making a coalition.
Hon. Michael Makuei Lueth said there is no provision in the agreement that tights down the hands of the president from rendering service and serve the interest of his people. The president is acting in accordance with provision of the law.
And South Sudan ambassador to Russia Hon. Telar Ring Deng stated that the internal front should remain united. "This is the only way to defeat our enemies" He said.
Questions will follow in these above Statements from our leaders …………. But what I know is tribal statements are igniting violence to continue fueling the current rampant in the young nation.
"The SPLM in government will not engage any opposition party to solicit assistance in transforming South Sudan’s economy, the key ministries shall not be given to SPLM-IO and other political parties,” and so said Hon. Elia Lomoro recently.
These words of divide from public figures always symbolized a government that has created a failed State. This is the vitriol of a government that has failed dismally to unlock the potential of this country and continues to bungle from one calamity to another. This is the arrogance of a government that lacks imagination and any reasonable means to extricate our country from the continuing decline in the quality of life of South Sudanese. These are the words of people who fear any organized effort by free citizens to change the circumstances, which we now face.
Now we must understand the nature of this beast called SPLM (IG). It fears change and suppresses anything that threatens its hold on power. It does not respect fair competition, despite the fact that it has no idea on how to get out of the political and economic problems it has created. It does not respect the ballot box us we all witness in various poll stations in 2010 (NEC) as a means to elect government, but feels entitled to power. It is an archaic patronage system of old men who have no clue or interests in the future we want. It does not see the worth in any talks or dialogue with other south Sudanese outside SPLM in government. The sooner we appreciate that, the better.
And so, since the SPLM in government does not need any of our views to sort out the political and economic mess, it means that unless we do something ourselves, things will get worse and their denials of reality will continue.
So let us put aside our imagined differences and personal ambition for the greater good of South Sudan. I think we have an opportunity to reshape our future as a country so that we can revive the economy, create jobs and create a normal society that enjoys basic rights.
Let all the opposition political parties come together and resolve that without the creation of new conditions. That is what I am working hard at. How can we define a better future together and agree on what it will look like? How can we move towards that future now without wasting any more time? These are the questions I think we must answer.
Should all parties collaborate with SPLM/A (IO) and call for national reform and change of leadership altogether with one voice, that will be the time south Sudanese shall see a light through the tunnel and that light will be for freedom after tyranny rule.
In my opinion the more we delay coming together, the more we are giving SPLM in government time which they do not deserve. The only question right now should be when will SPLM for Kiir, Makuei, Wani, Malong, Marial, Telar,Malaak, Kuol, and others go, and not if. We have had enough and there is no contestation on that.
The Writer is Columnist who wrote a lot of articles about poor leadership and tribal ruling in South Sudan; you can get him at [email protected].