A MP from South Sudan has resigned, citing the Juba government’s inaction in addressing the nation’s deteriorating economic circumstances.
South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) member Peter Mabior Riiny Lual was also a Commissioner in the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
Hussein Abdelbagi, South Sudan’s Vice President for the Service Cluster, is the recipient of his letter of resignation.
According to Lual, the circumstances in a nation where roughly 70% of people are still illiterate, where there is a persistent shortage of good hospitals and schools, and where people are dying from avoidable diseases and starvation, served as inspiration for his choice.
As long as the same people we represent are dying and leaders are unjustly becoming wealthy at their expense, we cannot continue to call ourselves leaders.
“When men and women tasked with providing services fly out to get treatment for malaria and other diseases that can be treated in Juba, taking with them millions of US dollars as allowances, people are dying from preventable diseases,” the former lawmaker wrote.
He said, “I have come to the realization that they are misleaders and that South Sudanese are unfortunate to be led by political conmen. We had sincerely believed that the opposition would be the voice of the people and that it would change the political trajectory of our country by opposing the failed government led by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.” It has come to light that this is untrue. Staying in that Parliament would be a waste of time and energy.
“Please accept this letter as official notice of my resignation from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) and as a member of Parliament. I am aware that Dr. Costello Garang Riiny is the party chairman, but as you are both a high-ranking member of our party and a representative of SSOA, I felt it was important to deliver this letter to you,” he stated.
You shouldn’t be shocked by my resignation. I asked you if you still remembered why we signed the agreement with the administration and what we battled for in the middle of last year. You never responded to me. You’ll assume I’m crazy for quitting.
You think this government is a man straight out of paradise, and it’s your chance to become wealthy. I see things differently,” the former congressman continued.
Lual also voiced concerns about the nation’s about 70% illiteracy rate, the persistent dearth of high-quality clinics and schools, and the high death toll from diseases that could be prevented and starvation.
We should, in my opinion, be thinking about ways to keep our people out of poverty on a regular basis. However, the former MP stated, “I see it fit to resign since we are doing nothing to help our people.”
“I am resigning because serving in this government has turned into a joke and a scam,” he continued. My resignation ought to serve as a testament to my independence of thought and I have the option to stop if I feel that what I’m doing goes against my conscience or beliefs.