SPLM-IO won’t submit list of state, local gov’ts nominees until Kiir appoint Olony – official

JUBA – A South Sudan opposition official allied to SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny is telling Sudans Post that the group will not submit list of its nominees to state and local government positions until President Salva Kiir Mayardit has appointed General Johnson Olony Thabo.

This comes after reports that President Salva Kiir has backtracked on his acceptance, in October, to appoint General Olony, the SPLM-IO nominee, as governor of the oil-rich Upper Nile state.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Monday evening, Dut Majokdit, a senior SPLM-IO member in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state and a member of SPLM-IO peace delegates in Juba, said the group is optimistic that President Kiir will appoint General Johnson Olony saying Machar won’t replace the opposition commander as the SPLM-IO nominee for the oil-rich state.

“For those who thinks that Dr Riek will change our nominee for Upper Nile State governor, it is a mischief. We are optimistic that President Salva Kiir Mayardit will issued a decree to appoint General Johnson Olony before the formation of the States Governments,” Majokdit said.

“The People’s Movement shall not take unnecessary and wrong decision to submit the lists of the SPLM-IO nominees for states and local governments, as well as for the national and states parliaments, before the appointment of the Governor for Upper Nile State,” he said.

The opposition official accused President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government of employing tactics to deliberately delay the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement blaming the regime for provisions of the agreement which are behind schedule.

“The Peace Agreement is behind schedule due to the delay tactics to frustrated the whole thing in the Process by the SPLM-IG,” he said.

“It’s time to think about our People who have been suffering for the last eight years without better services,” he added.