The Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State Kennedy Gaaniko and some officials who pulled out from the state government have agreed to resume their duties.
The coalition government reaffirmed its commitment to working together Monday, after the fact-finding committee from the Council of States concluded investigations into the recent wrangles and split within the state government.
The committee to Western Equatoria concluded its investigations on Monday, after meeting the conflicting groups.
Speaking to the media, deputy governor Kennedy Gaaniko says his group has now reversed the withdrawal decision to rejoin the government.
“We cannot allow the government not to work. We say let’s go back to work and wait for the result from Juba and this is the resolution that we have come with, and also I want to thank the governor for his commitment that he will work toward everything that is not there.”
He also said they will welcome the outcome of the investigations.
For his part, governor Alfred Futuyo said he has no problem with his deputy, adding that he is going to reorganize the government.
“I was saying that, those who withdraw from the government I did not remove them but they withdraw alone, and if there no decree am still the governor this state,” he said.
“For this state to move well, if protocol is not okay, things will not be okay, and if the minister is talking like governor and deputy is the same things will not move well. I don’t have any problem, let the deputy governor go and tell his people to return back to their positions.”
In October, the state government was divided along parties, and Deputy Governor Dr. Kennedy Gaaniko announced the cabinet ministers from SPLM-IG, SSOA, and FDs had withdrawn their active participation in the state affairs.
The group accused Governor Alfred Futuyo of having suspended the regular council of ministers meeting indefinitely, in a ploy to dodge questioning over alleged reduction of civil servants’ salaries.
Gaaniko also claimed that the governor and state finance minister unilaterally cut civil servants’ salary arrears without consulting the cabinet. But Governor Futuyo denied the allegations.
However, members of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance and former political detainees distanced themselves from the deputy governor’s claims.