Dr. Jok Madut (left), Dr. Bol Mel (middle) and Dr. Aldo Ajou Deng (right)
The social media statements by Dr. Jok Madut and Dr. Uncle Aldo Ajou are confusing. I think they will have to explain the following to South Sudanese.
Dr. Jok said that what is being discussed about Bol Mel is based on assumptions
and hatred of the man. He also said that Bol Mel has not expressed any desire
to replace Kiir. And that Kiir has not said he's preparing Bol Mel to replace
him. I will give Dr. Jok the benefit of the doubt because he shared these views
on social media where most of us are not always serious and measured when
sharing our views.
I have come to know Dr. Jok as far more
sophisticated and self-aware than the status being referenced reveals.
Here is my dilemma. I’m not sure if Jok is saying that for us to accept the
argument that Bol Mel regards himself as the heir apparent to President Kiir
then he must say explicitly, "I want to replace President Kiir!"?
I will wait for Dr. Jok to explain
himself. Bol Mel will have to be a complete dodo to say publicly he will
replace President Kiir!
No!
Bol Mel has shown a meticulous ruthlessness,
a systematicity of a miskiin sekin! The English calls such a person a
silent killer.
Also, there is never a case where politicians are clear about their intentions.
Facts and politicians are like Trump and Truth, water and oil!
Since Bol Mel was decreed in, he's been like Kiir's right-hand man. He stood
beside President Kiir when the man from Kampala came to South Sudan. He was the
one sent to Ethiopia to smooth things over with the New Flower [Addis Ababa]
after J1 prioritized the man from Kampala over Dr. Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia.
When he was appointed VP, Bol verbally, explicitly targeted Riek Machar, a
member of the presidency. He also asked Madam Nyandeeng not to abandon Kiir!
I'm not sure what he meant by that! He also mentioned that he would get
involved in security issues. We must ask ourselves why?
Now, Riek is in detention and Upper Nile and Jonglei are conflagrations. That
Bol Mel may be Kiir's successor is more of a presumption than an assumption.
Enter Bol Mel as VP and boom! there is money for salary! This is what late
Steve Jobs called connecting "the dots moving backwards."
How about Uncle Dr. Aldo?
He said Kiir cannot just make Bol Mel his successor, arguing that SPLM has
succession structures. He's kidding, right?
Is it not the same Kiir who embarrassed Kuol Manyang, imposed Peter Lam Both
and then tossed him, demoted Wani Igga to Secretary General and then made Bol
Mel one of the deputy chairs of the SPLM? Did anyone in the SPLM make a
whimpering sound?
Note this. If the president goes abroad for
state visits, article 1.6 section 1.6.4 of the Revitalized Peace Agreement says
that the first vice president becomes the acting president on a temporary
basis. When both the president and the first vice president are absent, the
president appoint one of the four vice presidents as acting president.
Since Riek is now in detention, let’s see
who President Kiir would appoint as acting president. Vice President Nyandeeng?
Vice President Josephine Lagu? Vice president Taban Deng Gai?
We will see…
But Kiir is, we are told, not physically and mentally incapacitated now. When it comes to succession, please don’t try Kiir! Try Kiir...just try...!
So Uncle Aldo is saying Kiir will, somehow, respect rules, laws and regulations when it comes to who is to succeed him? Come on Uncle Doctor! Has anyone ever defied Kiir? Pagan, Nyandeeng and Riek did! Where are they now? Madam Nyandeeng is protected by the ghost and the liberation aura of John Garang. She became VP through G [X] not through Kiir’s SPLM.
Uncle Doctor also said that we cannot blame Bol Mel for the corruption inherent in awarding contracts. Bol Mel is just a businessman, he said. Is this an implicit endorsement of corruption?
So Bol Mel is our VP but we should not hold him legally and morally accountable? Is that what we are now supposed to expect from our public officials? "Blame the government! I knew there was corruption but what did you expect me to do?"
Folks, Bol Mel is a public figure, for better or for worse. Allow us to unpack his public life! He comes with violence and money…and the slick, efficient smoothness of a high-end gigolo!
____________