By Hou Akot Hou
Governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, Simon Ober Mawut, warned on Saturday against the idea of creating additional chieftaincy roles in counties and payams.
During a consultative meeting at the Palm Africa Hotel in Juba, Governor Ober addressed participants to gather insights from Aweil intellectuals living in Juba on how to effectively manage state affairs.
Ober expressed concern over the proliferation of chiefdoms, noting that this has led to a duplication of roles, with some chiefs failing to fulfill their assigned duties.
“Many chiefs have assumed their roles but do not have the necessary qualifications or responsibilities expected of them. They often sit under trees waiting for cases to come to them, as there are numerous chiefs in the counties and payams,” he stated.
The governor revealed that his administration plans to impose stricter measures, including the collection of hut taxes, to encourage accountability among chiefs.
“We will implement hut taxes so that any chief who fails to pay can be removed from their position. This is a step my administration will take upon my return,” he asserted.
Ober emphasized that the creation of more chiefdom roles has led to conflicts within communities, particularly over territorial boundaries.
“We will explore ways to amalgamate nearby areas to be governed by known paramount chiefs,” he added.
Additionally, the governor raised concerns about land grabbing in Aweil Center County, where disputes over arable land have been reported.
“I have learned that many people own large tracts of land that remain uninhabited or undeveloped. In Aweil Center, landowners often provide plots to their associates,” he said.
He added that the issue has caused significant controversy in Aweil Center, and we will seek ways to minimize such tensions over land,” Ober explained.
Governor Ober also announced that his administration aims to support all sectors, including the military.
He mentioned that he recently facilitated the transportation of food supplies from Juba to army units in the state, an action that sparked a heated debate among some members of his cabinet who accused him of diverting state funds to the military.