South Sudan Capital Relocation Now or Never! "Ramciel will make a great city for all; we must make it now or else we regret our own folly." 05 September 2011
By Isaiah Abraham GURTONG Edited - The Council of Ministers for the Government of South Sudan, on its resolution on the National Capital status (September 3, 2011) has finally made its position clear. Options then were open, but now they have specific place they want the national relocated to be. The Committee for that purpose was formed and the work or report was presented to the Head of our State, I guess, before Independence Day. Juba in the Central Equatoria State (CES) has been snuffed. I wholehearted applause it! This was because of no compromise in sight and waste of time and resources in a place that will never be the capital. But I heard some quarters arguing that the relocation of the capital now isn’t a priority, and the begging question is: what is a priority if the capital seat isn’t one? Capital thing is item number priority and no deceiver should play around with this matter. The services people talk about aren’t any priority to be exact when the issue of the capital hangs in the balance. After the house come basic some of which are immediate while others take a while to realize. People want a place to start planning hospitals, schools and roads and this can’t be done on air. Juba people have spoken loudly that they don’t need anyone in their land; this hypotheses is supported by facts through written letters as well as their behaviour about land around the city. They must be left alone. Everywhere can be anything if really there is no politics applied in this straightforward matter. When our people made it to Itang (Ethiopia in earlier 1980s), the place was a no man’s land, but after few months when people went in, the place turned completely different, suitable for leaders to sit and start planning operations. The question of money therefore can’t be any reason to stop a good idea of removing capital away from Juba. This is a crisis and something must be done! The government can squeeze housing matter within our current budget, and if needs be borrow, and with time we can pay it back. The Lagos- Abuja story can’t be any reason why the capital can’t be taken now. People of Yoruba (around Lagos) were friendly to other Nigerians; there was no question of this people not wanted in that city or land becoming a total monopoly of these people (Yoruba). Apart from rigidity of the Bari people on the land, the town is not suitable to host the national capital. It is small and difficult to expand. We had earlier said that the capital needs to be spread and investors allowed to make good use of their money. This won’t happen in the city Juba at its current status - not a village or a town unfortunately. We have nothing to lose now if people move away from it. The city can remain to our brothers from the CES, and everything else will just be fine. The biggest surprise people don’t understand now is that the people of CES are aware of everything; they know what they are doing, until at a time when they see that the city is fixed and established, they can come out with banners and tell everyone to pack and go. Please let’s learn from mistake of the 1980s and move out before someone kicks others out. This is a fact and people must not be allowed to get dub twice. The Ramcial idea is an idea whose time is right! In all respect, that place (Ramciel) should be the seat for all. Its geographical location, the atmospheric touch, the capacity/extension, the scenery, and the people add a flavour to the place to be the seat of the new nation. People go where everyone feels part of it, not section of people making fun of others. People in the Housing & Physical Infrastructure Ministry (H& PI) or the Parliament should not sit over the matter. It must be given the attention and urgency it deserves! If there is no game anywhere (H & PI Ministry) the process could start as earlier as next year, and by 2014, everyone should be there. It starts with few units and others can go slowly. Let no one slows the process again, as it happened few months ago, when the report was difficult to be finalized. The people of the South want their capital known, and Juba is out of the equation. It is a bad city we must run away from. I know some key leaders that have looted the South and have made huge financial investments here would drag their feet and the question to them is: who do you think you are when millions other Southerners have no place to put their heads down? Don’t you care that the people of the South have decided to have their capital city known earlier? Why would anyone stand on the way of our people to keep people in this city where environmental living has become a struggle? People must not be hoodwinked that the people of CES will change their minds about moving their headquarters elsewhere, say Yei or Lainya. They will not move away an inch! In addition, there is no right formula to share the capital, something the authorities are trying to sell. This idea won’t work, one government must go. After all, the CES Bari are firmly on the ground for any decision about the capital development, expansion and planning. Two hands can’t help in this situation. Khartoum sharing formula in my view is unique; it has no connection with people claiming it. So, the issue of Capital city must be muddied or just delayed. CES are to remain behind (I must repeat it). Other Southerners however can’t forget the support and reception the people of CES did during the formation of the then Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). They did everything to ensure our leaders find places as offices and residential houses. Juba will remain our historical city where we raise our flag and where the remains of our icon Dr John Garang de Mabior are burried. Ramciel will make a great city for all; we must make it now or else we regret our own folly. Posted in: Opinions -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to jfdinfo@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to jfdinfo+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
