By Ngor Deng Matem
A section of Aweil intellectuals in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State (NBGs) have dismissed the Governor’s statement denying the youth contribution towards the building of NBGs University.
Last week, Governor Tong Akeen Ngor, speaking to, Deng Gau Mou, Radio Miraya FM’s correspondent in Aweil, on the nationwide program, claimed that he initiated the University project.
The governor alleged that no youth has paid a single penny to fund the university construction project.
“I was expecting the youth to thank the government of NBGs and to thank the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit,” he said.
“These youth who are talking, have not paid a single coin to fund the university. I am the one who paid the money; I also cut the salaries of those who are working with the government of NBGs on a monthly basis,” the Governor stated.
Governor Tong further stressed that his government has done enough to make sure that the public university in NBGs starts lectures soon.
He also disclosed that there was no budget from the national or state governments to fund Aweil University.
Many youths and intellectuals hailing from Aweil have taken to social media, slamming the governor for denying their contributions, following the interview.
Mr. Ngong Atem Akok, Secretary General for the Juba subcommittee for NBG’s university fund mobilization, is among key mobilizers to support the institution.
He noted that Governor Tong indirectly accuses the committee members who mobilized resources for the University, of mismanagement of the funds.
He described the governor’s deliberate denial of the youth contribution as uncalculated.
“If I were the Governor, I would’ve acknowledged the role played by the youth in contributing what they can afford and that it wasn’t enough to erect the University. That would make more sense than the complete denial of the contributions,” Atem lamented.
Mr. Atem said Governor Tong made all of them stand accused of the misappropriation of the little contributions from the masses of Mading Aweil (mostly youth) and the well-wishers.
“His complete denial of youth contributions made it a case that the Committees that were assigned to do this work didn’t do their job well,” he hinted.
The Juba sub-committee secretary-general stressed that some of them would not accept being blackmailed for that matter.
“We must clean our hands in the eyes of the public. For accountabilities and whether authorized or not, a report must soon be shared with the public to prove that youth have contributed and that Governor Tong Akeen Ngor’s statement was unfiltered,” Atem submitted.
Intellectual Atem revealed that “The Aweil Family” (TAF) mobilized and submitted 555,000 SSP and $4,400 all to the University Account.
And the Juba Subcommittee, on the other hand, deposited 8,293,750 SSP and 17,511 USD to the same University Accounts.
He further clarified that 95% of all the money submitted to University Accounts comes from youth.
Mr. Atem then questioned how realistic it was for the Governor to say that youth didn’t contribute anything.
“With these crystal records, it’s mindboggling to say that youth didn’t contribute anything. We could only agree with the Governor that the money is not enough to implement the project, but a complete dismissal or denial of youth’s contributions was so unfortunate, misplaced, and uncalled,” Ngong noted.