Western Bahr el-Ghazal State government has honored retired Catholic Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako for his role in enhancing education in Sudan and South Sudan.
Speaking during the October 10 commemoration of the Daniel Comboni Day in Wau, Deputy Governor Zackaria Joseph Garang said Wako played a great role in promoting education for the young South Sudanese in Sudan during the conflict.
Garang said that when Wako served as bishop of Sudan, he established many schools, which benefitted many South Sudanese.
“There was little chance for the South Sudanese to access education in Sudan as people were staying in distant areas with no schools, but Wako established the Comboni schools, which benefitted more than 42,000 southerners,” said Garang.
“Today, most leaders in Juba, Wau and nearly everywhere else are the graduates of these schools in Khartoum. Some of them are ambassadors and ministers,” Garang added.
He said Wako also played a great role to bring about the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.
Wako urged the people of South Sudan to refrain from tribalism and work together for the welfare of the younger generation and the country.
“You have forgotten that God did not create people to work against other tribes. When God created people, he did not categorize them according to their tribes like Dinka, Jur, Balanda or Ndogo,” said Wako.
“Pointing fingers at each other when there is a problem will not solve anything,” he said.
Wako called on the people of South Sudan to be peaceful and work towards solving their own problems without violence.