Politicians from the Equatoria region of South Sudan working in the state and national governments have today announced their opposition to a proposal to make SPLM-IO rebel leader Riek Machar the "first vice president," saying incumbent VP James Wani Igga should remain senior to the rebel leader in any power-sharing government.

A political gathering was called urgently today at Nyakuron Centre in Juba and chaired by Igga, after the IGAD peace mediators reportedly proposed in Addis Ababa to make Riek Machar "first vice president" ahead of Igga in rank.

During the meeting the Equatorian politicians resolved to back Igga not to allow Riek to become senior to him as "first" vice president.

Martin Elia Lomuro, an Equatorian politician belonging to a party aligned with the SPLM-Juba faction of President Salva Kiir, said after the conference that James Wani represents the people of greater Equatoria in the government.

"It is our position that James Wani Igga become the First Vice President," said Lomuro, who is also the cabinet affairs minister to Kiir. He said that IGAD should not reward rebellion by position. 

The three governors of Equatoria region were present during the meeting and each gave his position, but it is not clear what each of them said.

For his part, Hon. Thomas Wani, head of the information committee in parliament, said that Equatorians started the rebellion in South Sudan in 1955 and spearheaded the formation of Anyanya One. "We contributed effectively for the liberation of this country as such we must have an equal share," he claimed.

"Equatorian position is very clear that we need the position of the first vice president and we deserved to be the president of this country. We have compromised enough," he said.