River Naam streches from Northern Bahr el Ghazal via Unity State to Lake No

The National Economic Conference was disrupted on Friday after the Unity State Governor and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba clashed verbally over the ongoing clearing of the Nile River.

In a video circulated on social media, Professor John Akech criticized what he called the ongoing dredging in Unity State.

Professor Akech asked whether the project was for flood defense, whether people knew the consequences, and if the government of Unity State knew anything about it.

“This area is for all people, millions of people depend on it. Governor Montyui knows that the idea of River Naam is key to this. What is it for, flood defense, does he know what will be the consequences, does the government know anything about it?

In response, Governor Monytuil said “If clearance is going to save the lives of our people, so let it be, why not,

“What is happening is not dredging, and there is an unnecessary sensitivity that we have been seeing. We all love this country.

“One of the media warlords has described the people of Unity State as animals. Prof. Akech I who stand before you, I’m I an animal, and Professor Akech it is you.”

Governor Montyuil expressed the determination that the clearing to the Nile would proceed.

But some participants next to him intervened and sat him down.

In a Facebook page post, Professor John Akech said the utterance by the governor infuriated him and asked Montuil to provide evidence.