By William Madouk Garang
Governor of Warrap state who doubles as a Tonj community leader, Aleu Ayieny Aleu has called off ‘controversial’ community General Assembly meeting scheduled for Sunday 26th June at Nyakuron Cultural Center.
This came after a lawmaker at Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Kanaj Kuol Kuol, last week, accused ex-Warrap governor, Lewis Anei Kuendit and his associates of ‘plotting to oust’ the incumbent community leadership under governor Aleu.
According to the MP who represents Tonj North County at Tranistional National Legislative Assembly, Mr. Kuendit chaired a meeting which was allegedly designed to remove the chairman of Tonj Community Aleu in absentia.
Legislator Kuol further urged Tonj people to stand their grounds and distance themselves so that they should not be allured by those position seekers who the lawmaker said want to backstab and hijack leadership.
However, Lewis Anei Kuendit vehemently refuted the allegation made against him, saying that he was only honoring a call by community as an elder to help them resolve disputes that had been affecting the community for long.
Mr. Kuendit stressed that Tonj people should not be held hostage even at a time when the community is in pain and in need of her educated sons and daughters to offer their assistance.
In a press statement issued by Warrap State Coordinator office in Juba relaying governor Aleu, said governor Aleu’s directive ordered for immediate call off of Tonj Community meeting.
“The alleged Tonj Community General Assembly meeting scheduled to take place on Sunday the 26th of June, 2022 at Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba has been called off until further notice,” read parts of the statement seen by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper and signed by Kur Akol Malek.
Besides, Governor Aleu stated that the meeting was cancelled because of the illegitimacy of the group, adding that the group in other words have no right to call for meeting.
“Due to illegality of the body and some serious community concerns, this group has not officially followed the right procedures to call a meeting,” the statement further added.
In a related development Akop Community leadership added their call for Tonj general Assembly meeting to be negated, citing that governor is outside the country and the constitution should be enacted first.
“Tonj Community leadership had been operating without constitution at the base and in Juba. Hence, we are asking the organizing committee to call off the set meeting and to work the constitution first,” read parts of statement signed by ten members.
Another separate statement by Apukjuwiir Youth Union –signed by Daniel Manuer Wol dated 25th June, 2022 distanced themselves from the group led by former governor Kuendit in Juba.
“Therefore, to all Apukjuwiir youths and elders we remain under the leadership of our Acting Community leader Gen Aleu Ayieny Aleu until he will come back from abroad and this will be our take off or request for leadership dissolution and election,” read press release stating position of Apukjuwiir.
However, office of Acting Tonj South Community leadership, Mario Monydthieth said the initiated meeting has brought mix reactions and tensions and urged the group to call of the anticipated meeting.
“Any decision that will be taken without consideration of our concerned will be treated bias, because this Tonj is not meant for individuals but to all of us with our opinions to be accommodated for better Tonj” he said.
“We shouldn’t rush as if Tonj is running somewhere, unless one has different agenda of going somewhere with Tonj,” noted parts of press release dated 24th June, and signed Monydthieth.