By Peter Kuol Kuch
Jonglei State governor, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, has issued a gubernatorial order suspending Akobo Commissioner, Puot Nyang on Thursday, reportedly due to security and administrative issues.
According to a suspension letter obtained by this publication, Commissioner Nyang is accused of inconsistency in his duty station and of issuing a press release condemning the arrest of SPLM/IO Chairperson Dr. Riek Machar.
Hon. Puot Nyang is a member of the SPLM/IO party and was appointed as the Akobo County Commissioner based on his party’s nomination by the President.
The suspension order, signed by Jonglei State Governor Dr. Riek Gai, states that the executive director for Akobo County will immediately assume oversight of the county’s affairs pending investigations.
Meanwhile, according to the Akobo Coordination office in Bor, Tut Jock, the Coordinator for Akobo County, confirmed receipt of the Commissioner’s suspension letter at the state headquarters in Bor. He added that they have not yet received any response from the County Commissioner in Akobo.
Mr. Tut indicated that news circulating on various news outlets about the Commissioner rejecting the suspension letter might be unfounded.
He stated, “well, we have seen the suspension letter, but there are reports about its rejection by the commissioner. I called him this morning, but his numbers were unreachable. We are seeing on social media that the commissioner is rejecting the governor’s suspension letter, but that can’t be true.”
Numerous news outlets and social media users have reported that Puot Nyang, the suspended Commissioner of Akobo County, has denied and rejected the suspension order, reportedly stating that “the Governor has no constitutional right to suspend him,” citing his affiliation with another party.
Efforts by this publication to reach the suspended Commissioner of Akobo, Puot Nyang, were unsuccessful.