June 25, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan prominent opposition and National Democratic Movement (NDM) leader Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin has appealed to President Salva Kiir to consider his group’s nominee for Jonglei state governor, according to a letter obtained by Nyamilepedia.
This week, Akol who is also the secretary-general of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) said his group has nominated its secretary-general Mahjuob Turuk, for the governorship of Jonglei state which has been allocated to the opposition consortium during a Kiir-Machar meeting in Juba on Wednesday last week.
It was still unclear if other members of the alliance – with the exception of SSLM led by Bapiny Manytuil which has already accepted the nomination – also have agreed to the NDM nominees.
In the letter dated June 25, Dr. Akol appealed to Kiir for the appointment of his group’s nominee saying the alliance has been working on the selection of their nominee which has so far been tough over political infighting over who take the governorship between the alliance members.
“Pursuant to the agreement reached on the 17th instant regarding the allocation of the Governors of States to Parties to the R-ARCSS, we in SSOA have started the process of choosing our candidate for the position of the Governor of Jonglei State,” the prominent opposition leader said.
“The selection procedure has always been for the interested constituent organizations to make their nominations, seconded by another and the Leadership Council chooses the one with more votes in the Council or if there was only one candidate then he/she wins unopposed,” he added.
In the letter, Lam stated that the group, in accordance with nominees-selection procedures, nominated its “Secretary-General, Mr. Mahjuob Biel Turuk, to the position of Governor of Jonglei State. The nomination was seconded by the SSLM.”
“To date, no other nominations were made. Therefore, SSOA LC should have adopted him as the nominee of SSOA to the position. However, some organizations within SSOA are reluctant to hold a meeting for that purpose for reasons best known to them.
“As time is ticking, we are obliged to present our nomination directly to your Excellency hoping that he gets the appointment.”
