By William Madouk Garang
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-Youth League (SPLM-YL) has distanced itself from comment made by its suspended secretary general, Simon Machuar which says Jemma Nunu was endorsed as upcoming president, citing that it’s not youth league making.
Yesterday, Machuar alleged that referring to Nunu as a future president was not his own making but was endorsement by youth league and SPLM national Secretariat and little did he know that it was a secret.
The suspended Secretary General 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.
“Because according to the 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 said.
In rebuttal, Daniel Abucha the chairperson of SPLM youth league told No.1 Citizen that it’s not a jurisdiction of youth league to nominate flag bearer adding that it’s a political bureau’s task.
“The statement of Machuar should be taken as an isolated statement, it’s not from SPLM neither from SPLM national secretariat nor from SPLM-YL,” Abucha noted.
“The political bureau is the highest organ of the party that nominate the flag bearer and PB has already done that, Cde Salva Kiir is the next flag bearer of SPLM and will always remain,” he added.
Abucha terms the comment as ‘wild propaganda’ and should be regarded as baseless rumor, he challenged Machuar to produce evidence where he told him that Nunu was endorsed as upcoming president.
“Let him provide material evidence to proof his claim that I have reached him that Political Bureau has endorsed Jemma Nunu, which sitting and which political bureau? And how many people approved this allegation?” he dared.
“This is just a mere implication for public to see that – we are not working for president and so we should be removed. That is the whole idea,” he continued.
He stated that all members of youth league are united behind President Kiir, asserting that committee would investigate the incident.
“It’s an individual statement and it will be investigated and will be taken care of, it has nothing to do with public, they should take it normal and simple,”
On Sunday, Machuar posted on his Facebook a statement calling for a popular reception for the Speaker Kumba who was recently 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 Africa 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.
“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.