S. Sudanese State Governor says corruption charges are ‘baseless’

Speaking to The Niles, Njore explained that he sees the allegations as a politically motivated attempt to dent his reputation, which is why he has, thus far, declined to respond to the damning 11-page report by the opposition politician Michael Losike. An investigation into the affair is scheduled to start this week:

Q: Governor you are accused of making your state a hotspot of militia activities. How do you respond to these serious allegations?

A: I do not want to speak about this. When the council of state asked me to come and answer these allegations, I told them that I do not want to respond to baseless allegations. I told them to form a neutral committee. I am the head of this state and the head of security. I cannot destabilise the state I am heading.

Q: Could you explain your relationship with the politicians in Eastern Equatoria?

A: Well, I cannot tell you that I have a good relationship with one hundred percent of all the politicians or intellectuals of Eastern Equatoria. There are people who are aspiring to take on my position and they must look for ways and means to tarnish my name.

Q: So you say the allegations are false? What reasoning can you offer for this?

A: Those who have been with me will be my witness and know I would be the last person to do such a thing to my party. I would  sacrifice everything, including my life. When I joined the movement I was not aiming to be a governor.

Q: When the accusation was made you did not react. Why not?

A: I want people of Eastern Equatoria to remain calm until the committee comes and investigates. If it can prove that I was training militias and, as the allegations claim, I have sold the land to the investors and have included militia in the state’s payroll and that I have attempted to kill Losike.

If that is proved, I will honourably resign from being the governor of Eastern Equatoria and I will go to face the law. If it is proved that I have never trained any militia, I will seek justice. This is what I promise the people and I am now telling the people of South Sudan in general and the SPLM, my party that brought me to this position.

Q: What repercussions do these allegations have for the Eastern Equatoria State?

A: Well, first of all, the name of our community is tarnished. People become suspicious of our community. People from outside South Sudan who read the internet and the media will say that a community called Taposa rebelled and are training militia. Secondly, NGOs will be afraid to come to the area so there will be no services. Also, those who are trying to invest don’t want to lose their money by investing in an insecure area. This will scare the investors.

Q: Will it spark division among the Taposa community?

A: I do not think that people will be divided by something which is not tangible. Yes, it is possible that my opponent seeks to divide the Taposa by starting such talk -- but I do not think that the Taposa people will accept that.

I want to tell the people of South Sudan that any treason against the people of South Sudan government will never, never come from Eastern Equatoria and it will never come from the Taposa community where I come from. This is a baseless accusation and it never happened. People should not take it seriously.

Q: How do you view the general security situation in your state?

A: I think we have educated the people about the importance of peace and stability. Before I came into office in 2010 there was tension due to cattle rustling, tribal conflict and inter-village fighting, high way robbery and even shooting in the town of Torit.
 
Now, generally the situation is calm and peaceful. We have reduced cases of cattle rustling. Our security situation is okay and we are trying our best to implement the policies of our government and the  SPLM, the policy of decentralisation and trying to empower our grassroots.

However, we have been disadvantaged by the austerity budget and we are not able to implement most of our plans. We hope the situation will improve when the oil production resumes.