Appointment of Hon. Santino Ajang as Speaker of Upper Nile Assembly

By James Okuk

Congratulations to H.E. Santino Ajang Aban for being appointed by H.E. Salva Kiir as the New Speaker of Upper Nile State's Assembly. This is good for the Collo because they have been marginalized in the top position in Malakal in spite of their being the majority in this state. The Governor is a Nuer, the Deputy Governor is a Dinka and the Acting Speaker was a Brun.

With the appointment of Mr. Santino, the Collo are getting the opportunity to hold the second highest office in Upper Nile State. We want Collo to get united in their strategies so that they can hold the First Highest Office in Upper Nile State, comes the General elections in 2009.

Dear Collo do not be fooled not to be tribalists in the jungle of tribalism because political survival might be hard for you in the current situation of Southern Sudanese politics. It will not be good for Collo not to be trabalists when others are doing it; otherwise we will continue to lose in the tribalistic politics within the SPLM.

Let us not bother much about what the constitutions say because the 2nd SPLM Convention has proved the saying that "Africa is the best graveyard for the best constitutions." Everything turned out to be appointment and not election during that convention so there is nothing exceptional about Upper Nile State.

Let us not be bothered by the humble academic qualification of Hon. Santino Ajang because even the SPLM Chairman has humble academic qualification too.

Let us not be bothered by the fact that Hon. Santino is closely related by blood to H.E. Pagan Amum because if he does not get a favour from him where will he get it from, given the fact of nepotism that has been witnessed in the Sudan. At least Mr. Pagan Amum took the courage this time to make his relative (cousin) benefit from the privilege of political power.

I advice Hon. Santino Ajang not to get intimidated by what will be said about him because political positions are not immune from criticism. Let him try to do something good he will be remembered for after he has left that office in future. Let him not mess up with the public good like the former Speaker. With time and with cooperation with other MPs, I have no doubt Hon. Santino can perform well more than the former speaker.

I also advice Hon. Santino to avoid getting into too much political intrigues because he will waste his time in fear if he does that. Let him get a consolation in the fact that nobody is born a best politician. People learn good politics by practice and commitment to the common good.

Congratulations to Santino once more and I wish him all the best in his new public responsibility. May God give him wisdom and good health for him to succeed in his new duty.