Security for the people of Unity state, the population of other states and the border with Sudan are to be top priorities while he is in office, the newly appointed caretaker Governor of Unity state, Dr Joseph Nguen Monytuil, has said in an exclusive interview with Radio Tamazuj.

Dr Monytuil, who took his oath of office in the presence of President Salva Kiir on Sunday, downplayed tensions with outgoing governor Taban Deng Gai, who had been dismissed by President Kiir in a surprise degree the same day, without receiving any reasons. Gai has protested his dismissal as ‘unconstitutional’.

The new governor pointed out that the main issue facing Unity state is security within its Counties, the states that border it, as well as its border with Sudan. He acknowledged that this will be his main challenge.

“Insecurity does not allow development to take place because insecurity is an enemy of development. Security is the key to my plan for the people of Unity state,” he said

Dr Monytuil said that without security there can be no peace so no unity will exist among the people of Unity state. “Security and the life of just one person cannot be equated to one million US dollars, but the state pours millions into roads, neglecting security. Spending money on security will protect the lives of many citizens.”

He lamented the indolence of some of the youth who are accepting cattle raiding as a way of life, pledging to address the problem. “Idleness is the key to all evils. If we don’t engage our youth to be productive, they will choose cattle raiding as a profession.”

The incoming governor caretaker said that he is going to put in place a mechanism that can reduce or solve the problem idleness. He pointed out that once there is peace and security, it gives the state government the chance to use the resources for the development of the state and deliverance of social services to the citizens as it is their right to be served by the state government.

Dr Monytuil noted that service delivery is another challenge facing Unity state. “Clean drinking water, schools for their children, roads to connect the state and its counties, these are services we need to provide for our citizens to make change to their lives”, he said.

Monytuil underscored that it is the responsibility of the state government “to be transparent to citizens about the percentage of oil revenues Unity state receives from the central government, and to inform the citizens on how that money is spent in order to avoid suspicion: “I will engage the citizens in the decision-making so that at the end of the day will know how the state spends the money it gets from the National government,” he pledged.

Dr Monytuil attended the College of Medicine at Cairo University from 1986 to 1978, after which he practiced medicine. He was appointed Governor of Unity State until 2005. He served as National Minister for Health then later served as presidential advisor, also serving as an MP in the National Assembly in Juba.

File photo: President Salva Kiir (left) with Dr Joseph Nguen Monytuil

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Exclusive: Unity's caretaker governor downplays tensions with Taban Deng (10 July 2013)