RUMBEK – A former SPLM-IO-nominated Deputy Governor of Lakes State said lack of a political agenda and vision is causing recent defections from the party led by First Vice President Riek Machar.
Poth Madit, a SPLM-IO lawmaker from Lakes State, announced his defection alongside other top party officials to President Salva Kiir at the ruling party (SPLM) house in Lakes State on Thursday.
He said he defected with three members of national parliament, 12 members of the state parliament, including the opposition chief whip, three state ministers, a gubernatorial advisor, three heads of state independent commissions and four members of the group’s National Liberation Council (NLC).
“The reform agenda which people have been talking about is not even there and again SPLM-IO top leader who is Dr. Riek Machar says he doesn’t want to go for election, but for most of us who joined SPLM-IO, we have joined SPLM-IO party thinking that there will be reforms,” he told reporters in Rumbek.
Madit said the elections provide an opportunity for citizens to elect their leaders.
“So, we decided to come back and join SPLM-IG party because the SPLM is talking about elections and that the demands of the citizen in the Republic of South Sudan.so, that’s why I resigned and come back to SPLM”, he observed.
According to the senior SPLM-IO official, the ruling party has been championing reforms and the SPLM represents the aspirations of the people of South Sudan.
He said he was appointed by President Salva Kiir who has powers to remove him.
“So, I cannot resign because it is when I am relieved from my ministerial position that I will go home and [if] I am not relieved then I will continue serving my people as a state minister in Lakes State”, he explained.
According to the official, it will be SPLM-IO to write a letter about resignation and seek a successor for the position he holds on the armed opposition ticket.
Madit is currently a member of national assembly representing SPLM-IO party.
He said SPLM-IO lacks a visionary leader to steer members ahead of elections.
Meanwhile SPLM-IO has dismissed allegations by former members who have defected to the ruling party that the entire party and its leaders have lost vision.
This response comes after the defectors issuing a joint resignation letter in which they expressed their disillusionment and frustration over Machar’s leadership.
In recent years, however, Machar’s party has experienced significant setbacks inform of defections as well as a split in the armed wing of the main opposition faction.
