Let Democracy Chooses Its Friend Among the SPLM Contenders

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..