By: James Okuk
As I said in my previous article that politics is the art of the possible if not impossible, you can see all the possibilities that are emerging in Juba. Now the fear and panic is ruling the hearts of the leaders who are contesting for SPLM top leadership and fishing for more supporters amongst the delegates.
This is the price of democracy that we sing and dance
for everyday. We must also accept its consequential reality whether favorable
for us or not and let the process continues.
The time of appointments and favoritism from the leaders is gone; it is now the
time of election and choice of the people for their preferred leaders who they
think can deliver better results. This choice is not without a cost and we must
bear it without regret when it comes. We have not to take it personal because
democratic politics is a public issue that need to remain public whether it is
for or against us.
In my opinion, let whoever thinks he can lead the SPLM better come up, and let
democracy chooses its friend amongst the contenders in the environment of
fairness and freedom of vote by the delegates. No intimidation and no insults;
the time of campaign is over! it is the time of reality choice. Remember
that All the SPLM cadres signed agreements with Jellaba or NIF government,
including late Dr. Garang who was sworn in as a Vice President by Mr. El-Beshir
his Boss in the Presidential Palace in Khartoum.
When he died untimely, Mr. Salva Kiir was also sworn in by the same NIF and
Arab leader, President El-Bahir in the same Palace. So many others are very
familiar with Khartoum and the Jellaba's Palace there. If this is the criteria
of betrayals, all of these SPLM cadres have been betrayers (Garang, Kiir,
Machar, Nhial, etc). All of them went to Arabs in Khartoum
without exception. But I do not think this makes much sense in the context of
the CPA partnership. So let us leave this pointless rhetoric, be patient, wait,
and see the winners and losers without reference to the Arabs or NIF.
If any of the contestants convinces the delegates with his quality of
leadership and program for the good of SPLM, then he will be welcome if he
passes the post first. In whatsoever the case, the most important thing is the
stronger unity of the SPLM after the convention whether with Kiir's leadership
or with any winner's leadership. No more categorization by 'Garang's boys' or
'whoever boys.' This desired unity of the SPLM and stronger partnership with
the NCP for the rest of the remaining three years of the interim period will be
required for the sake of CPA implementation to its logical End. Long Live SPLM
and Long live all its cadres as they pursue their good or bad luck in the convention.!
James Okuk is a PhD student in the University of Nairobi. He can be
reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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