The SPLM party has castigated its members who participated in the vote of no-confidence in the leadership of Unity State governor Joseph Monytuil.
On Monday, the Council of States withdrew its confidence in Monytuil – saying he is not fit to govern due to his “poor leadership qualities.”
96 out of 100 legislators passed a resolution that has since been forwarded to President Salva Kiir to fire Monytuil from the governorship position.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, the SPLM Secretariat said its members in the Council of States acted without the party’s directives.
“The way it was done by the Council of States was not the way because the members of the SPLM would have withdrawn from the motion that was raised there and come to meet the party, so that the party should be the one to lead the process,” said Kuol Atem, SPLM Secretary for Political Affairs, Organization and Mobilization.
The Council of States had summoned Governor Monytuil to provide updates on security issues in Unity state.
The legislators were particularly interested in getting answers on the recent public and arbitrary execution of four young men believed to be allied to the SSPM/SSPA under renegade General Stephen Buay. 3 were killed in a firing squad while another young man was burnt alive in a grass-thatched house.
They accused Monytuil of tarnishing the image of the country and the President through the public execution and not addressing issues of insecurity in Leer, Mayom and the attacks on SSPDF convoys.
“Almost the whole House voted against him…Only 4 were left and we are 100 members, “said Josephine Nakuru, spokesperson of the Council of States.
However, Atem said the SPLM Secretariat rejects the vote of no-confidence resolution.
“We have not accepted because it should been done through the party because this government is the government of political parties. You come back to your party and seek consultation and advice. This is how it is done,” he argued.
He added that the matter of insecurity in Unity state has been left to the President to determine after a fact-finding mission that he authorized recently.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit who is also the chairman of the SPLM party has formed the investigation committee, so it will be after that report of the investigation that we will come and meet and come up with one decision,” Atem stated.
The constitution does not explicitly explain whether the Council of States can trigger the dismissal of a Governor.
It, however, says the Council of States can request statements from Governors and national Ministers concerned regarding effective implementation of the decentralized system and devolution of powers and any other issues related to the states.
The House can also legislate for the promotion of a culture of peace, reconciliation and communal harmony among all the people of the states.
