The governor of Lakes State on Tuesday issued an order suspending the minister of labor and public service, Jok Ayom Majak, and in a separate order relieved the director general in the ministry of information and communication, John Madol Panther.
Governor Rin Tueny Mabor did not give reasons for the gubernatorial orders but appointed Moses Malok Mabeny as the new director general in the state information ministry.
The acting minister of information and communication in Lakes State, William Koji Kirjok, however, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that the orders were in line with the governor’s prerogative powers.
“There is no reason mentioned in the orders, these are prerogative powers of the governor. He knows why he suspended the minister of labor and public service, Jok Ayom Majak, and also why he relieved the director general of information and communication, John Madol Panther, and appointed Moses Malok Mabeny as his replacement,” he explained. “There is not much to talk about the firing of the director general and the appointment of a new person because the governor knows why he relieved him.”
“These are the few changes made by the state governor on Tuesday night,” Koji added.
The suspended minister is a member of the SPLM party.
When contacted, the former labor minister Jok Ayom Majak said that he was aware of his suspension but said he was in Juba for medical treatment.
“I have three cases for which I was referred to Juba for treatment with the permission of the governor who recently came to Juba. I visited him at his residence in Juba and showed him my medical documents and he is very much aware of the treatment I am undergoing,” he said. “I have a throat problem, stomach complications, and leg pains.”
He said he will meet the governor when he returns to Rumbek after treatment and discuss his suspension face to face.
“I am a member of the state assembly and if the governor does not want me to work with him in the executive, then I will remain in the state assembly,” Ayom said.