By Tereza Jeremiah Chuei
The Secretary for Information and Communication of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Western Equatoria State John Ezbon Idri has refuted accusation made by the Deputy Governor Dr. Kennedy Ganiko against the SPLM-IO, saying those are allegations.
Few days ago, Dr. Ganiko who also hails from the ruling SPLM party accused and condemned the SPLM-IO in Western Equatoria for closing public institutions during the launch of their party mobilization.
“The launching of the SPLM-IO in Western Equatoria is not bad because SPLM-IO is signatory to the peace Agreement…. the political party has the right to exercise the freedom of speech, peace awareness, unity, reconciliation and forgiveness and the public has the right to attain the rally not by force like what took place today in Yambio,” he said.
These accusations came after the SPLM-IO staged their party mobilization rally in Western Equatoria State capital Yambio.
However, the Press Secretary in the Office of the Governor Alex Digi stated that the accusation has become a norm in Western Equatoria State citing that the deputy governor’s intention was to tarnish the leadership of the governor who comes from the SPLM-IO party.
Speaking to No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Alex revealed that there were no directives given to public to close down their business or institutions.
“The event was organized by SPLM-IO and the governor is the Chairman of the SPLM-IO, there was no order or directive given to any public institution to close their office and go for the rally because it was a voluntary call,
“If you are willing to come then you can come and if you are not willing to come then you can go on with your activities, so there was no instruction given to the traders to close their shops and there was no instruction given to any official to close their offices and come to the event,” Digi said.
“Actually, this is a usual thing that everyone see in Western Equatoria State that whenever there is anything that the Governor chaired the deputy must response on it negatively that is why he released the statement just to tarnish the image of the party who organized the event under the Leadership of the governor,” he continued.
However, the Secretary for Information and Communication SPLM-IO John Ezbon, stated that, “I don’t know about the forceful instruction, this was a rally of a party not a rally of the government, the party does not force people to come and attend the rally by force, that is not true.”