Dec 17, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — A senior SPLM-IO member says the Upper Nile Conference, which was meant to bring together the communities living in the region together, is dead on arrival, adding that the conference has turned into a power theater.
“The so-called Upper Nile State conference is dead on arrival. If it’s meant to overthrow the Agreement. The Agreement cannot be overturned in Upper Nile State, it’s not their document. The Conference is turning out to be a power theater marred with overwhelming speculations,” Nathaniel Pierino said in a statement.
The former SPLM-IO governor of the defunct Imatong state and SPLM-IO representative to the National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC), Nathaniel Pierino, said that the political acrimony surrounding the Upper Nile State Conference has reached its boiling point.
He accused the political leaders of substituting their communities.
“Political leaders in Juba have virtually substituted their communities. They are the leaders and also the community,” he added, asking: “How can they take both roles?”
Nathaniel Pierino went on to say that the so-called process of reconciliation is born dead as it is highly politicized.
“It’s highly politicized. Each party should hold their own conference as they wait for the process of Truth, Reconciliation and Healings. So that they can discuss who took what?” he said.
According to the senior SPLM-IO member, there cannot be a meaningful reconciliation and healing without having the king of Chollo whom he claimed is in exile.
“The king of Chollo remains in exile, I cannot imagine a meaningful reconciliation and healing without involving directly or otherwise the king. Alienating the Chollo kingdom is inherently counterproductive.
According to Dr. Oyet, it should be the people and their local traditional authorities that reconcile, not the politicians.
“We expect the traditional authorities, landlords and their grassroots to assemble not those who are wielding titles in Juba. They are part of the problem of the grassroots. Some have never remitted proceeds from oil money due to the state and local communities and are not wanted by the grassroots.
“If the aim is to obstruct the appointment of Gen. Johnson Olony, how many non Chollo Governors came and went, what is particular about a Chollo Governor of that State? And besides, the allocations of state responsibility is a party business not conference.”
