Kiir must accept Olony as Upper Nile governor – Duer Tut

JUBA – Former SPLM-IO governor of the defunct Sobat state Duer Tut Duer has urged President Salva Kiir Mayardit to accept his group’s nominee for governorship of Upper Nile state, General Johnson Olony saying he should not dictator on other parties’ nominees to constitutional posts.

Several sources last week told Sudans Post that Olony had accepted to step down on the condition that Duer is nominated to replace him. No official confirmation from the SPLM-IO however was made.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, Duer said he would not accept the nomination instead of Olony because the same reasons Olony was rejected would jeopardize his nomination as well.

Duer however said he was not also ready to work under President Kiir and FVP Dr. Riek Machar.

“I will not accept the position of Upper Nile State Governor,” Duer said. “I am not ready to hold a constitutional post under Salva Kiir and Riek Machar. To be clear to those who do not understand the understandable, I don’t want to Work as Governor under Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.”

“They refused my Comrade General Olony to be the Governor of Upper Nile State, why should they accept me to be the Governor of Upper Nile State? What is the difference between me (Duer) and Olony, since the Governor is going to govern the State of Upper Nile using the SPLM-IO policy, am I going to implement a different policy than that of Olony?” the opposition official asked.

He said that “rejecting Olony means rejecting Duer, means rejecting any other potential SPLM-IO candidate for that position. Only Opportunists within the SPLM-IO will accept the position, I am not an Opportunist.”

He said President Salva Kiir Mayardit should not be given the right to decide on other signatories to the revitalized peace agreement.

“Salva Kiir should not be given the right to decide on behalf of his party and also decide on behalf of other parties. The Governorship of Upper Nile State belongs to the SPLM-IO. Salva must accept the name given by the SPLM-IO. I mean General Olony. It is not up to him to accept or refuse,” he said.