Feb 16, 2021(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan’s government delegation returned to Juba after failing to persuade Gen Johnson Olony to defect from opposition and join the government.
According to a senior opposition member, the South Sudanese government officials led by the Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime had traveleed to Sudan’s capital to try to persuade Gen Olony to re-join the government but he declined the request.
“Their mission failed miserably as General Johnson refused to be bribed with money. They offered him to be in charge of the 7th Infantry Division. But all of that was rejected,” the opposition official revealed.
Among the members of the delegation are, the Director of National Security, Lt. General Akol Koor Kuc, Governor of Jonglei State, Denay Chagor, and the Governor of the now-defunct Fashoda State, Jukino Failed.
Dut Majokdit, a member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council (NLC) congratulated Gen Olony for standing firm with the opposition leadership.
“We congratulate General Johnson Olony for standing firm with the SPLM/A-IO leadership and for refusing to join the conspiracy against the very peace agreement that has achieved relative calm in the country,” Dut Majokdit, wrote in a statement after General Olony’s rejected to defect from the SPLM-IO.
The opposition leader wondered why the government would promise him a senior position in the army if rejoins the government yet it refused to appoint him as the Upper Nile governor when he was nominated by Machar.
“They had rejected you for the last nine months as a part of a political campaign to frustrate you and blame, in the process, Dr. Riek Machar Teny for refusing to appoint you so they have the accuse to approach you to defect to the SSPDF. Your appointment was turned down as the SPLM-IO nominee for the Governorship Upper Nile State and today you’re told to be appointed as Upper Nile sector one commander of the SSPDF if you abandon Dr. Riek Machar and join the SSPDF. Why do they refused to accept your appointment as governor in the first place?” the opposition official asked.
“I applaud you for standing with the truth and it’s time for the government to focus and accept to implement the security arrangements and formation of the state and local governments, instead of frustrating the process while they watch as our people suffer to death because of their actions,” he concluded.
