Independence riveting like no other BY: Isaiah Abraham, JUBA
JULY 20/2011, SSN; People of the Republic of South Sudan have shown everyone how happy they have been after their long walk to freedom. The chains of slavery and oppression were broken on 9 July 2011. The occasion was a day like no other in the lives of our people in our land. Men shed tears like babies as others fainted out of ecstasy. The air was rant with South Sudan Republic Oyee, Dr. John Garang Oyee, President Kiir Oyee, Dr. Riak Machar Oyee and God Oyee! The wild and subdued happiness were read across the faces of our people everywhere they may be. People genuinely congratulate one another and the world around them. Unity from nowhere was forged and wishes expressed at random. People whose laughter was precious and often cough cracked by the voice of Pagan Amum and James Wani during the occasion. For this author about the event, it was an emotional moment of my life and I truly bow to thank God and our martyrs in the person of Father Saturino, Gen. Tafeng, Gen. Lagu, Mr. William, Uncle Clement, Gen. Dr. Garang, Uncle Samuel Gai Tut and host of others. I must confess however that the journey for freedom of our people was tough. What a marathon! It wasn’t easy to be free! I smelled deaths more than once, and the question then was: for how long shall we continue to pay the price? But inside us was fire of hope that one day, the people of the South shall open their mouths for joy. We bled for a cause worth the price, and today we can attest the fruit of our struggle, what a cause! Having graduated from the major hurdle of our lives, named as political freedom, my people, let us stop pulling ourselves down over small issues of governance. The so-called problems before us, some of which we can’t do without will wither with time. Take for example corruption; this menace will surely go once our leaders take the fight against it. It is a simple war that can end within no time. As things stand, the future for our people is indeed bright and promising. With the spirit of unity we have shown the world on January 9 and July 9, it is time to move that bar a bit higher. Let me waste your time to remind you about what you already know. We need to translate the independence euphoria to something of value to our people. To me, there is an urge needed to redefine our nationhood. The president of our Republic has made it clear in his speech on that day. We need to move forward as one people regardless of our differences. I take this moment to lower my hat to our president for appointing Dr. Riek Machar as his Assistant, a workaholic and rich hearted man who never tired of service to others. That spirit from the president should be emulated by many. We need to work together as brothers and sisters. By unity we will develop and progress. Second, the South of the Sudan needs an identity. Southerners want their own culture embedded in their way of governance. Our Constitutional dictates on cultures aren’t in themselves enough to make us feel proud. We always read it and left it in our drawers. We missed opportunities any moment the world come closer to look at us. On Saturday, I look around and failed to spot a single official of the government wearing an African or Southern Sudan attire (if that could have been). Women however were great during that day. We were Europeans and the Americans even the way we greeted or congratulated one another. The Speaker was nearer to what should have been done on big days like this, but he was too legislative. The point here is that the values in our cultures remind us of where we are going from where we came. It is not about becoming little when one dances or sings from his own vernacular or costume himself or herself that way, it is rather about who you are and how you are identified. Third, Southern Sudanese are known for generosity, it defeated logic on that day (July 9) to have the likes of Presidents Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Gabriel R. Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Goodluck Johnson of Nigeria, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, Haboba Sarah Hussein Obama just to narrow the list, leave the soil of South Sudan without some gifts. Mr. Amum casually mentioned a few and Government Secretary General (Agaw) only referenced Arabs political leaders of the North. Uncle Lagu, Uncle Alier and Uncle Abdalla Rasas were out of the Protocol system even a single poster wasn’t spare for these great leaders of the South. We must not easily forget what these people have done to the for the people of Southern Sudan. Fourth, since we have crossed the ‘River Jordan’ peacefully to the new land, we should remind ourselves about what we have been doing best during our long journey so to keep and what we have learned as odd to leave behind . One thing we have been good during the liberation is hard work and discipline. Called it a survival but the fact was that people were busy doing everything for themselves and their families, unlike these days when we waste precious time doing nothing. President Kiir concluded his speech during the Day that we must get to work. He couldn’t be more right. Hard work is important for our growth; don’t wait to be shown what to do, whether you are working or not, there is plenty of things to do in this land. Discipline for national building is critical in that without it everyone will do things and expect no accountability or responsibility for any crime. The law can’t be applied unless it is obeyed. An obedient nation is needed in our situation. Citizens must respect the law in the land or else we end up becoming law by ourselves. If the law says no, let no politician says yes. Lawyers in our land should stand firm in the face of threat by those who like living on the wrong side of the law. I’m seeing lawyers not helping our institutions in their application and interpretation of the law in our land. I have taken too much on issues that could make us enjoy in fullness the celebration of our independence; otherwise independence could be meaningless if we remain on the same status before independence. Sincerely, the Government of the people of Southern Sudan known then as GOSS has tried and we should be grateful to what they have achieved. Even if we don’t take it overboard to award them an A, the team has succeeded to achieve political independence on the ashes of problems here and there. But we need them to do more because the political environment at the moment is conducive for anyone to show talents. I should end here by reminding our leaders about Abyei. That land must be brought back before we celebrate the second anniversary of our independence next year. Abyei land is an important piece of land for the people of Southern Sudan not just Ngok Dinka. If Ngok decides to go, they can go, but the land is part of Warrap State. God bless South Sudan! Isaiah Abraham lives in Juba; [email protected] COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
