By Pal Chol*
"Why is the issue of the NYU taken to become a one tribe affair knowing well that the country is inhabited by 64 tribes? Are these youths wanting to insinuate that it is their birthrights to hold that position? Do they want to confirm that it is their tribe that controls the economy and politics and to prove what is being fallaciously said of one tribe hegemony?"
Hot on the heels of the dissolution
of the National Youth Union (NYU) whose term has elapsed and the subsequent appointment of the
steering committee led by Mr. Bak Salva to prepare for the election of the new
body (vide Ministerial Order), there have been some disgruntled and bigoted
social media users who have been ranting to have their voices or grievances
heard without any semblance of shame.
They consist of two groups, mainly
our cousins from Greater Bahr el Ghazal states; those in favor and against
the former president of the NYU. These Youth are sharply divided as can be
seen from the venom they have been spitting in the media against one
another. They have taken it upon themselves to settle their scores using the
position of the NYU as a Trojan horse by stirring up the situation and calling
themselves names with some even questioning the legality of the Ministerial
Order. The other ethnic groups are quite and have become only spectators.
With all that borne in mind, there
are pertinent questions that need to be posed and would beg answers to the satisfaction of all.
Why is the issue of the NYU taken to
become a one tribe affair knowing well that the country is inhabited by 64
tribes? Are these youths wanting to insinuate
that it is their birthrights to hold that position? Do they want to confirm
that it is their tribe that controls the economy and politics and to prove what
is being fallaciously said of one tribe hegemony? Is it only in that part of the
country that there are qualified youths and eligible candidates to fill that
position?
I can read between the lines that
these youths who support somebody already fired are in fact against the state
and they toil round the clock for its eventual downfall. They are 'decampaigning' the
Head of State, something we shall not allow to happen under our watch. This has got
to be very clear and must be resisted head-on should anybody or a group move
towards that.
Those who call for the former leader
to be reinstated are showing contempt and disrespect to the Honourable Minister
of Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr. Nadia Arop; something which has never been heard of. I am
being tempted to believe that there is nothing that makes courageous those who
challenged the decision of the minister apart from the fact that she is seen in
the way I and they know. She doesn't come from home and considered as somebody
just favored and doesn't have civic rights.
Can these youths attempt with any
other minister, a tribesman or a woman, and expect to get away with it
without consequences in any form? This country is bigger than all of us. The youth forms the nucleus of any society. They need not be divided, used for
cheaper selfish political gains and encouraged to lock horns over trivial
matters among themselves. It is time for us to unite as our unity is our
strength.
I am happy with some of my trusted
friends, who see the truth and support the ministerial decision.
They are patriots and nationalists.
I vow to stand with them through thick and thin to defend and support the minister and
by extension the president.
I call on my fellow youths all over
South Sudan to let go of the past, prepare a conducive environment and ground
for the election to be held and if it is won by Bak or whoever, there will be
no qualms.
What is it that the former president
of the NYU has forgotten to do during his tenure for him to claim that he is
still the rightful leader of the NYU?
Having read the Ministerial Order
and other voices, his failures surpassed his achievements. Does that need to be
disputed given the legion of reasons we all saw with our naked eyes?
In brief, I just want to
categorically tell my brother, whose term has expired, to accept the decision of
the Minister, congratulate her for the time they spent working together, the
trust vested in him and wish the new committee well in their future
endeavors.
I would also encourage him to try
his luck by lobbying for any other job in the next government. He has all it
takes to occupy any position.
The decision of the Hon. Minister is
a fait accompli although we are hearing on the grapevine that there are big
fishes leaning on the power center, who want to cow the minister into reversing
her decision and reinstate the former leader. If true, it would be setting a bad
precedent and it would only be a back-door politicking that must stop!
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*The author is an independent opinion writer. He is also a medical practitioner in South Sudan. To contact the author, use this email: palcholnyan2016 @gmail.com.
Editor's Note: The views expressed in the article don't reflect the views of The Philosophical Refugee Site but the author.
