A senior member of the SPLM/A-IO on Saturday claimed the infamous tribal group, Jieng Council of Elders wants to replace president Kiir with another son from Warrap.
Gai Mayen Luke, the chairman for the Movement’s Student League categorically stated on his social media page (Face book) that those seeking to remove President Salva Kiir from the presidency are “consciously or sub-consciously, succumbing to the strategic ambiguity of the JCE aimed at promoting political tribalism (perpetual Dinka Rule).”
Gai came out to address this matter after rumors of JCE sent a letter to media endorsing the outcome of the National Dialogue report which suggested both president Salva Kiir and FVP Dr. Riek Machar should step aside from the leadership position, sending a wave of shocks throughout the country.
How the Jieng Council of Elders had the courage to makes this call is, perhaps what Gai came out to clarify.
He believes, it is a conspiracy to ensemble yet another son from the Dinka community to lead the country because Machar is the most likely successor of Kiir, in case something happens.
He accuses the group of promoting “perpetual Dinka Rule” that has been the predominant agenda in the JCE’s manifesto, though largely hidden from the public.
“Anybody who wants to seize power and doesn’t know the fact that only one man is solely in possession of the state apparatus is an insufferable fool and is bound to fail miserably in his quest,” Gai said on Saturday.
“It is neither logical nor feasible to say that both Kiir and Riek should be shown the exit door at the same time. The hidden agenda of the JCE behind this obnoxious proposition is that Riek Machar is seen as a potential later threat to the currently masked up Jieng son (possibly from Warrap) whom they want to prop up and replace Kiir with because he is not serving their selfish interest anymore. “
Although he appears to support the president to remain in power, he distanced his boss Machar and the SPLM/A- IO saying, they should not be dragged into this game.
“Even if that were the case, Riek Machar is no longer part of the de facto ruling party, the SPLM-IG. The removal of Kiir, at this point in time, is strictly a business of the SPLM-IG and nobody outside that umbrella should be dragged into it.”
He warned those supporting this move are either “sub-consciously, succumbing to” Jieng Council of Elders’ agenda to yet retain another son from the Jieng community to take over the leadership.
“Anybody who supports this dubious move is, consciously or sub-consciously, succumbing to the strategic ambiguity of the JCE aimed at promoting political tribalism (perpetual Dinka Rule) and derailing the implementation of the R-ARCSS, which is the only realistic mechanism of achieving the much-desired change in South Sudan.”
However, Gai believes the only way forward at this critical juncture is to maintain president Kiir as the president and implement the peace agreement in spirit and letter and not to create confusion.
“The best course of action a voice of reason should echo at this moment is to urge for the cooperation of the signatories to the agreement to implement it in letter and spirit–and not to sow seeds of confusion like the JCE is attempting to do.”