SPLM launches election campaign in Yei County

The SPLM has officially launched its campaign in Yei County. The event started at the SPLM County Secretariat Yei County with a road drive campaign across the city.  Thousands of SPLM supporters especially the taxi bikes, commonly known as boda bodas, marked the day by riding around the town too. They made a very extensive road drive covering a distance of about five miles square diameters.

SPLM cavalcade drives around Yei town centre

Although the event was supposed to kick off at around 8 o'clock in Yei's Freedom Square, it gained momentum at around 11 clock. It lasted for two more hours.  Thousands of SPLM supporters invaded the place in order to take part in the event.   A banner hung in th square with the SPLM election message,

"The only hope for the marginalised and the route to sustainable peace."

This was also their theme for the day.
 
Mr. Bidal Moses, The County SPLM Secretary, who is also the chief campaign manager of the SPLM,  said, "let us stand with the SPLM candidates." He also told the gathering that, "SPLM has no end."

The commissioner of Yei County, Col. David Moses Lokonga, is the chairperson of the SPLM party in Yei. He was the chief guest at the event.  He echoed the words of Mr. Bidal, saying that, "support any candidate standing on the SPLM ticket." He also condemned anyone wishing to stand independently. Colonel said, "Independent candidates say, 'we want to bring fundamental change' but in a real sense they intend to turn all efforts of the SPLM upside down including the CPA." He therefore advised the gathering to be aware of any confusion that might be caused by these independent candidates with their traitorous words. He said that they (independent candidates) might come with lots of money. "They carry full boxes of money. Do not be blind flooded by this money," he added.

Boda Boda SPLM supporters in Yei

In response to the commissioner's comments, one man in the crowd shouted loudly, "let them bring the money. We will put it in our pockets, but still support SPLM." This put a smile on the Commissioner's face. The Commissioner left the SPLM supporters with an assignment. He told people to start preparing for the coming of both Salva Kiir Mayardit and Yasir Saeed Arman. The two SPLM presidential candidates are aspiring to be elected in Southern Sudan and the Republic of Sudan respectively.

The Commissioner told the crowd that on the visit of the presidential candidates to Yei, everyone in the County will be expected to come along with leaves to drop on the road from the airstrip, which is five miles outside of Yei  town, up to the Yei's Freedom Square. He said that dropping of these leaves will be a sign of giving a warm welcome to the two SPLM bosses.

In addition, the Commissioner also explained what the star that is on the SPLM flag symbolises: He said that the symbol of the star on the flag represents light. "And this light lights all the time - whether at night or during day time," he added. He said that SPLM is the light of the nation. 

According to the CPA everyone has aright to belong to any political party without fear. But some of the SPLM members have strayed from fact. For instance during the last SPLM campaign in Yei, many SPLM members echoed repeatedly that independent candidates took such a wrong move. Actually they (independent candidates) are considered to be destroying the CPA as well as the efforts of the SPLM/A. There is no doubt that some members of the SPLM are becoming arrogant. This arrogance has in turn created fear among the independent candidates.

But with the elections coming in just three weeks, hopefully leaders who would fill these high profile offices will understand and try to do things in accordance to the CPA, since there is not really much realisitc hope for the independent candidates.

The other contesting SPLM candidates were also given a chance to introduce themselves and also say a word or two to the people. These candidates are aspiring for different posts within the County and Payam (Sub County) levels.

The event ended with loud cheers of, "SPLM Akuma Bitaana" -  meaning the SPLM is our Government!   But Mr. Bidal told the gathering not to be too arrogant and that, "we still have a long journey to go."