When South Sudan was part of Sudan, many activists were badly needed to attract the international community to look into what could be done to see the people of Southern Sudan dining at the same table with those in the northern Sudan.
This did not happen because of the hostility of the Khartoum regime. By the grace of God, South Sudan became independent, and by the disgrace of Satan, South Sudan prematurely fell into a series of fatal wars of which their settlement is ongoing today.
Everything seems to be operating upside down. The wars deaccelerated South Sudan back to square one, but because God works in strange ways, He chose one woman and blessed her to bear a child whose traits have no different from those of Martin Luther King. He was named Edmund Yakani. Since the inception of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) where Edmund Yakani happens to be the Executive Director, the civil society got its independence as can be evidenced by its signature in the R-ARCISS, its recognition by the international community, its voice on the affairs of government of the day and many others.
With Edmund Yakani as a prominent activist, the sharp horns of the government are somehow blunt, as no day passes without his voice on every step the government takes. What makes him more exceptional is not only his eloquence, vocality, bravery, simplicity and interactivity, but also his honesty in suggesting to the government what could be done.
My love for Edmund Yakani came to climax on the graduation of Unified Forces, where he was given an opportunity and said what many people feared to say. In fact, many people said he has dug a grave for himself. “Graduating Unified Forces is one thing, but paying them their salary monthly to stop unknown gunmanism is another”, said Edmund Yakani. Nobody clapped because people were afraid of what might happen. But I clapped my hands when I was watching the event live. I never fear telling the truth and supporting the one who tells the truth. There are so many activists to list in the fight for stability in South Sudan. Their work should not go unrecognized.
The world commemorates the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr every year on the 19th of January. Tears are shed once again to mourn for him as his life was cut short by the heartless James Earl Ray. Martin Luther King lit a candle to consume darkness not only for Black Americans, but also for Africans, Asians, and Europeans, to mention a few. He fought tooth and nail against systemic racism, bad governance, discrimination, injustice, unemployment, indecisiveness and all other bad practices which make people live below the poverty line.
It was because of Martin Luther King that the government of the United States of America is what it is today. After Martin Luther King Jr, no other Civil rights leader at the level of the world has brought change the same way he brought change to the American people. MLK Jr was too peaceful in fighting for change in America; a means which many of today’s activists think is unyielding. Having seen that he could not get more audiences if he operated in his own zone, he used the church to have his voice heard by many impoverished, disadvantaged, underrepresented and minority people.
It was through the church that he used to announce and organise demonstrations in a very peaceful manner. Many people who were in chains got liberated, many in prisons were released, many inhumane wars were abandoned, many injustices were corrected, and a lot more were modified through the effort of MLK Jr. This made MLK Jr the most exceptional Civil rights leader in the world. Today, the world celebrates him and his bizarre style of leadership.
In MLK’s speech entitled “Beyond Vietnam”, people thought the event would not end without MLK being skinned alive for nothing other than for telling the truth. But the truth set him free until that day when truth was bribed to give up freeing people. The only difference I want to exist between Martin Luther King and Edmund Yakani is the history and time of demise. Edmund Yakani has to live a lengthy life so as to further what MLK has left unfinished, and so do other activists.
It is fitting to recognise the CEPO’s effort in the propulsion of South Sudan to a heightened level, as it is fitting to recognise the commitment of our leaders to bringing everlasting peace in South Sudan. However, South Sudan needs many Martin Luthers to continue blowing life into the Civil Rights Movement. Whether or not I may be one, God knows. In every freedom that is fought for, activists should, too, be branded as freedom fighters. They are not armed with weapons like soldiers, but they are armed with words of resilience, courage, straightforwardness, justice and equal rights for all.
Thanks for reading “Sowing The Seed of Truth”.