By Dr. Sunday de John, MD,
Nyahururu, Kenya
On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Dr. Wani Igga delivered a skewed, boring but pompous acceptance speech for the position of SPLM Secretary General.
The speech in question was a masterclass in political deception, empty rhetoric, and self-aggrandizement.
Wani refused to address the deep-seated issues plaguing South Sudan and the SPLM, opting to use the platform to glorify his past, authenticate political benefaction, and fortifying the SPLM’s grip on power without offering tangible solutions to national crises.
Shrouded by anger and pride, Wani ignored one glaring issue, he conveniently ignored the absolute absurdity of his new position.
He failed to question his wisdom as to why must he be given the seat of Secretary General while already serving as the 1st Deputy Chairman?
Accepting the new seat in the party was unwise of him. He failed to underscore that the act, if in good faith, was a deliberate violation of internal party democracy and that was openly exposing the SPLM’s culture of recycling the same old faces as opposed to developing new leaders.
By merging two powerful roles in one individual, the SPLM has effectively shelved internal party competition in an attempt to challenge its own democratic principles.
Acceptance of the SG position by Wani reeks of desperation and not a strategic planning. holding onto a seat he held before and that he surpassed in hierarchy and with which he can do nothing new with, Wani indirectly gave away the seat of the 1st Deputy Chairman, or he has been outwitted by the decision makers.
Giving it back to him, if sincere, also shows that the SPLM leadership values personal loyalty over structural integrity and Wani has unremorsefully accepted this by giving a lengthy account of how he has been loyal to both Dr. John Garang de Mabior and President Salva Kiir Mayardit and how he took part in Kiir’s ascension to presidency.
It goes without saying that loyalty is vital, however, it shouldn’t alter the integrity required of an organization.
Throughout his speech, Wani was apprehensive with recalling about the past than offering any substantive vision for the future.
He spoke at length about his historical roles in the SPLM, dwelling much on what he called sacrifices and his eleven books and even with that verbosity, he failed to express a coherent policy direction for the party’s future.
His speech was a weary repetition of liberation era mottos with no significant acknowledgment of the terrible socio-political, insecurity and economic realities facing South Sudan.
In totality, Wani declined to address rampant corruption, economic collapse whose cardinal signs are unpaid salaries, growing insecurity, and the suffering of ordinary citizens.
He chose to indulge in self-praise, opting to paint himself as an irreplaceable pillar of the SPLM. That was not leadership; it was delusion grounded on self-gratification.
His overly self-confidence and claims of contribution greater than that of every one is akin to what we call confabulation in psychiatric terms.
At the level of the SPLM Political Bureau (PB), National Liberation Council (NLC) and the Secretariat, whom were Wani intimidating? Was SPLM meant for only old faces or must histories of individuals inside the SPLM be recited during oath-taking ceremonies?
By the look of things, Wani was also attempting to justify his continued presence at the top by highlighting Equatoria’s contribution to the liberation struggle. He expressed this in clear terms including detailing the battalions Equatoria contributed.
While Equatoria indeed played a role in the struggle, so did every other region, with many individuals paying the ultimate price, what extra edge was Wani trying to extract for himself? Was he telling us that his contribute holds higher price than that of our martyrs? If so, then why is he not acknowledging the rewards that he got from the positions that he has been holding?
Wani should be told that the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle were not a personal investment meant to guarantee him a permanent seat in leadership, nor should they be used to block other capable Equatorians from ascending to top leadership positions.
I can humbly say that his attempt on distortion of history was dishonest and self-serving.
President Salva Kiir could have recognize that SPLM needs fresh leadership, not a monopoly of the same individuals. This is in line with my call for generational entrance.
He would have gone the extra-mile to question Dr. Wani Igga if he truly respects the sacrifices of all South Sudanese, and if so, he would then have told him to step aside and allow new, competent leaders from across the country to take charge.
Predictably, Wani’s speech called for unity and discipline within the party. This constant utterance in the name of unity has been proven hallow by history.
The truth is, the SPLM has been beleaguered by internal divisions, undemocratic tendencies, and failures in governance leading to the ascendency into protracted conflict since 2013 without overlooking the 2004 and 1991 events.
Wani’s assurance that the recent government reshuffle should not cause “an earthquake” is a feeble attempt to downplay the growing discontent within their faction of SPLM and the country at large.
The notable silence of his speech on vital issues like the deteriorating humanitarian crisis on the background of both natural and man-made disasters like floods and war, government’s failure to implement genuine reforms, rising dissatisfaction among youth and women who feel excluded from leadership roles and the worsening security situation that threatens national stability, underscores the underlying rift.
Wani is unhappy with his removal, however, he has limited options, better of all was to endure and conform.
A sane South Sudanese would easily notice that Professor Wani was occupied with nostalgia. He must know that, South Sudanese need solutions, not nostalgia.
His speech was a typical example of everything that is wrong with the SPLM. He projected clearly that SPLM was a party caged in its past, not willing to progress, and resistant to new leadership.
His appointment as Secretary General is not a step forward; it is a reaffirmation of the same political stagnation that has kept South Sudan in crisis.
The SPLM, if it truly cares about its future, must stop treating leadership as a lifetime entitlement for a select few and start fostering real democracy within its ranks.
Wani’s speech was not a vision, it was in essence an obituary for progress in South Sudan.
Till then, yours truly, Mr. Teetotaler!
