By Gladys Kole
Speaker of Central Equatoria state Reconstituted Transitional Legislative Assembly has suspended the chief whip of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).
Rt. Hon. Peter Wani Elia Kulang in a letter dated 3rd May 2023, issued the suspension of the Chief whip, Hon. Dabe Francis Elisama with immediate effect.
The letter seen by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper stated that Dabe was suspended from the position of opposition chief whip, Central Equatoria state Transitional Legislative Assembly, over some secret dealings.
“I Peter Wani Elia Kulang, speaker of the revitalized transitional legislative assembly, Central Equatoria state do hereby issue this order for your indefinite suspension from your role as opposition chief whip with effect from today, May 3rd, 2023,” partly read the speaker’s letter.
“Hon. Dabe was suspended in consideration of his clandestine activities that undermine Regulation 15 of conduct of business regulations 2008 amended 2022 of the revitalized transitional legislative assembly, Central Equatoria state,” added the letter.
Hon. Dabe Francis was appointed opposition chief whip at the state transitional assembly under the ticket of the SPLM-IO in late 2021 and sworn-in in February 2022 along with other state lawmakers.
He was to oversee the conduct of opposition MPs at the parliament concerning the business of the august house and the committees.
Parliamentary chief whip monitors how members of a political party conduct themselves in the chamber and the groups.
They also ensure that members attend meetings of the house for support of their party on any important matter during a division on responsibilities of the house, according to the interest of party leadership.
Meanwhile, government chief whip also plays a role in the mapping, monitoring and management of governments business in parliament and informs leader of government about activities of the house.
The state speaker also striped off other two lawmakers of their positions in the assembly specialized committees.
Speaker Kulang on the same date issued other similar letters suspending Hon. Gita Betty Augustino as the deputy chairperson of the committee for legislation and legal affairs.
Hon. Gaitano Ladu Loggale was equally suspended from being the chairperson of the committee for land, physical infrastructure and natural resources at the state assembly.
Efforts to reach the lawmakers for comments regarding their suspension were futile by press time.