In a startling turn of events, the absence of Western Equatoria State Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba at the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly’s (RTNLA) session on Wednesday has triggered a wave of indignation among parliamentarians, prompting some to call for his removal from office.
During the session on Wednesday presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba was expected to testify before the House following a summon related to salary arrears of civil servants in the dissolved states of Western Equatoria.
In late August, Richard K. Mulla, an SPLM MP representing Mundri County in Western Equatoria State, raised a motion regarding the unpaid salary arrears of civil servants in the defunct states of Amadi, Maridi, and Tambura. He said the government employees had gone without pay for an astonishing 27 months, spanning from 1 August 2020 to 31 May 2023.
In response to the TNLA’s summon, Governor Futuyo submitted a written statement in which he explained that no finances from the national government had been remitted to the state for the defunct states during his tenure. He cited certain unresolved conditions that prevented him from appearing before the TNLA unless addressed or clarified.
Futuyo further wrote that the TNLA should summon the members of the committee appointed by President Salva Kiir to explain their findings and progress, instead of summoning him. Additionally, he requested that Dr. Mulla provide proof to substantiate his claims of misappropriation of funds earmarked for the defunct states.
In reaction to the governor’s response, Nyayang Johnson Lok Riek, an SPLM woman MP representing Jonglei State’s Uror County, called upon President Kiir to exercise his authority and remove Governor Futuyo for displaying a lack of respect for the TNLA.
“I will put forth my recommendation based on Article 101 of the constitution which outlines the president’s powers. Just as we discussed the misbehavior of the acting mayor of Juba, it is not limited to the mayor and even some governors are displaying misconduct,” she charged. “This is a clear example of misbehavior. How can you ignore the National Legislative Assembly? I recommend to the president to remove the governor. If the governor refuses to heed the people’s opinion, we should suggest to the president to suspend or remove him.”
“We want a governor who listens to the voice of the people and shows respect,” Johnson added.
However, Samuel Lohure Loti, a SSOA lawmaker from Eastern Equatoria, suggested that the governor should be summoned once more and if he refuses to comply, further action should be taken against him.
“The summoning of the governor of Western Equatoria and his response to this esteemed house is unacceptable and with some inappropriate political language. The resolution of this House cannot be dismissed as mere rumors. The governor has gone as far as questioning the legitimacy of this house, asserting that we have no right to summon him,” he said. “This is a grave violation of the constitution. He even cast doubt on the 51 lawmakers who signed this motion, claiming they lacked clear evidence or political interest. This is unacceptable, and we must condemn it in the strongest terms. We reiterate that the governor must appear before this house to explain himself, as the mover of the motion has articulated.”
Lohure added: “If he chooses not to, there are other articles in the constitution that we can employ to address this matter.”
For her part, Grace Abalang, an MP representing Ikwoto County in Eastern Equatoria State, concurred with Lohure’s stance advocating for the governor to be summoned once again. She criticized the governor’s letter as “sarcastic and arrogant” but emphasized the importance of giving him one more opportunity to comply with parliament’s request.
Abalang drew parallels with a previous resolution against the acting mayor of Juba City, Emmanuel Khamis, saying that political party affiliations should not shield members from accountability for their actions.
“Madam Speaker, we are providing the governor with a final chance. After this, if he fails to comply, we are saying that the governor should be held accountable, just like any other citizen in South Sudan,” she said. “The acting mayor is a member of the SPLM. We do not stand for him because he is a member of SPLM but because he did wrong. And this is the same thing we are going to do to any member of any party. We will not say because you are from this party or that party. We are seeing bad behavior in the assembly when it comes to members of other parties, we say they have done wrong.”
Following a tense deliberation, Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba ruled that the motion be terminated and that Governor Futuyo be issued another summon to appear before the parliament.
“We will proceed with the consensus reached giving the governor another opportunity to appear before the house,” she declared. “If he continues to refuse, the appropriate next steps will be taken.”