By William Madouk Garang
A worrying impasse would surface Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – Youth League (SPLM-YL) and the national Secretariat as the suspended Secretary General, Simon Machuar exposed that calling Jemma Nunu ‘upcoming president’ was Youth League’s making.
In an exclusive interview with No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Mr. Machuar defended himself that he was not aware that Nunu becoming president after Salva Kiir was a clandestine until a post that led to his suspension.
“In our meeting of yesterday … I told them that I accepted my mistake, [and] the only problem you have made is that you didn’t put me in clear picture. I don’t know the issue of Nunu becoming the president was secret,” Machuar told No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
“Because according to the SPLM youth league chairman [Daniel Abocha], he told me that this is what was agreed by political bureau members that after President Salva Kiir, Nunu is going to be the President,” he added.
According to Machuar, the chairman of SPLM-YL have right to suspend and dismiss any member. He asserted that he thought the idea was well-coordinated but was shocked when people now termed him as disloyal.
“As I speak to you, I am being treated as a betrayer hired by some people somewhere and whatsoever but I am innocent. This is what I can say, I don’t know what was going on there,” he lamented.
On Sunday, Machuar posted on his Facebook wall a statement calling for a popular reception for the Speaker Nunu Kumba who was just elected as Chairperson of East African Speakers forum and referred her as ‘upcoming president’.
“I am urging all the SPLM youth to attend a popular reception of our Rt Honorable Speaker Comrade Jemma Nunu Kumba, the Elected Speaker of East African Speakers’ Forum and the Upcoming President of Our Republic,” he wrote.
But the comment did not go down well with the chairman of the SPLM Youth League, Daniel Abucha Ali who immediately slapped Mr. Machuar with suspension.
“Based on your post on your Facebook today November 11, 2022 as quoted …. You are hereby suspended with effect from today until further notice,” partly reads the order.
Separately, Kumba’s office issued a statement and condemned referring her as a potential replacement to President Salva Kiir.
“……. such unfortunate writing does not represent Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba in any way since it was concocted by her political opponents and hired this machine so called Machuar to say it out,” Kumba’s office said in a statement.
“SPLM leadership is the only legitimate body that has a power to nominate party’s flag bearer as it has nominated H. E. Cde. Gen. Salva Kiir as the SPLM flag bearer in the upcoming elections,” the statement further added.