Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Simon Ober Mawut, has denied claims that he funded a social media campaign against his opponents.
In an exclusive interview with Standard Zone News, Garang Makuei, deputy press secretary in governor’s office, stated that the governor lacks the financial resources to support such activities.
“We don’t even have the money to fund projects in the state, let alone pay individuals to insult those who are lobbying for the governorship,” Makuei asserted.
He further explained that the decision regarding who will hold the gubernatorial seat ultimately rests with President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
“Those who are lobbying cannot appoint themselves; there is someone who has the authority to appoint and relieve. If he relieves you today, no one can question him, and if he appoints someone, no one can challenge his decision,” he said, adding that these claims are merely propaganda concocted by agents of the former regime in the state.
This denial comes after Mr. Deng Kuol, also known as Mores’son Dee, a supporter of Governor Ober, attacked former press secretary Ateny Wek Ateny, former Presidential Press Secretary, on social media, referring to him as a “freedom hall comedian.”
Mores’son Dee went further to urge people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to disregard any political statements made by Juba-based politicians regarding the dismissal of Governor Simon Ober and the suggestion that he could be replaced by ‘comedians from Freedom Hall, such as Ateny Wek Ateny.’
“These Juba lobbyists are politicians who will never lead Northern Bahr el Ghazal State because they are known as ‘political merchants’ seeking opportunities to loot the state and enrich themselves with state resources,” Mores’son Dee stated, noting that many of them have been rejected by J-1, while others were given opportunities but misused them.
“Aweil is not a theater where comedians should come and perform. Aweil is home to over 2 million people who need service delivery, not comic jokes and speeches,” he added.
This social media conflict has raised eyebrows among the public, leading many to speculate that the governor’s office is sponsoring attacks against critics of the state administration.
In response, Makuei clarified that Mores’son Dee does not work in the governor’s office and is not employed by the state governor.
“He is simply impressed by the activities the governor is undertaking in the state, which is why he has chosen to be a supporter. If we were not doing positive things, he might even criticize us. His conflict with Ateny Wek Ateny is not funded by anyone,” he denounced.
“Perhaps he has just seen that Ateny is not performing well, which is why he took to social media to voice his criticism. We did not sponsor that criticism,” he added.
