The chief whip of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State's parliament, who was sacked by the SPLM caucus over his support for former caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer, claims he is still the legitimate chief whip and rejects the caucus decision to remove him.

SPLM caucus members had said Benson Opuothmalo should step down because he was appointed to look after party affairs but he failed when he condemned the dismissal of Governor Kuel from the party and opposed his impeachment by the parliament.

Speaking on Friday in Aweil Town, Opuothmalo asserted that he is still the parliament chief whip. “I am still the government chief whip in attendance – I sign in as goverement chief whip, only thing they did is that they took away my seat in protocol and put it in at the back,” he said.

“I went to the acting caretaker Governor Choldit and I have shown a copy of the decree of my appointment; I was not appointed by SPLM caucus but by a decree. I told the acting caretaker governor here is decree of my appointment, if you want the right thing you shuold issue another decree to fire me...”

“I will wait up to July when the new govermenor be appointed and that governor will give my right,” said Opuothmalo.

Opuothmalo was accused by some other members of the SPLM caucus of being away from office for a period of over 3 months, neglecting his duties. They have also accused him of turning himself into leader of a minority in the House – a reference to the split within SPLM since January.

Early last month the official was fired by the SPLM caucus at state legislative Assembly. The caucus elected his deputy Deng Ayom Ayom to replace him as chief whip.