Africa-Press – South-Sudan. By Fatuma Asha Ali
A member of the South Sudan national parliament promised to build an inclusive, secular democratic modern society. Martin Ohuro who represents the people of Eastern Equatoria state in the transitional assembly expressed his desire seeking to be a speaker in the parliament. The former minister has a versed knowledge of politics and Public Administration, hence this experience positioned him as a suitable candidate for the post of speaker in parliament.
In South Sudan, several other colleagues who have closely worked with him honored him for his jolly leadership style and integrity. Some of his well-thought visions are to build an inclusive, secular, and democratic State and provision equitable services regardless of religion, political affiliation, social status, and gender.
“I have lots of vision for the country and the people of South Sudan. There are many attributes that make a person become a servant and good leader, one of which is vision orientation, hard work, and a quest for a better South Sudan.if you have had a taste of leadership, you may want to go beyond your cradle” he explained.
Martin OhuroOkerruk had a very promising life journey and has never looked back from the onset of these unbelievable achievements. what helps this incredible journey is Martin’s attributes, he is a quiet person with a series of qualities, talents, and principles Among them is being dutiful, Hardworking, hating gossips rumors and idle talks, reliable, advising others, Socialization and interacting with all.
Okeruk has a leadership style that is being driven by principles, vision, and utmost integrity, credibility, and people-centered values, Visionary, he has very brilliant communication skills, especially in English and French.
The former Minister is one of a kind who always aspires to win and be a good servant to his country and that is why he sets below five main Objectives that guide his ambition while in office.
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Academic background
The former Minister of Housing (Martine) started his long formidable academic struggles from St Mary Boys primary school in Kitgum-Uganda in 1958-1960 before joining Pajule catholic primary school in Kitgum in 1961-1964. Martin also Ventured into a series of seminary schools in 1966-1967 where he was admitted to St . Joseph’s junior seminary school in Lira, Lacor seminary senior secondary school in 1967-1970 in Gulu, and St. Thomas National Seminary for philosophical studies in Masaka in 1970-1971.
Okerruk still went on to achieve many academic milestones including his Advanced level Certificate from Samuel Baker Secondary in Gulu in 1971 and his B. A (Hons) in political science and public administration from Makerere University in 1976.
Martin had attended several workshops, training, and seminars some of which took him to South Africa and Ethiopia in 1985 he attended an institute of Revolutionary War studies and graduated in Bongo-Ethiopia.
He also attended the University of Burundi in 1991 and attained a certificate in the French Language in Bujumbura Burundi and the University of South Africa (Pretoria) where he was also awarded a certificate in Diplomacy.
He attended the Major Historic Conferences/Workshops held during the war. The Beginnings of the Institutionalization of the Revolution. this includes The National Liberation Council meetings, Chukudum (1994), Gorok, Rumbek (1992), and Yei (2004), he was also part of the SPLM National Convention, Chukudum (1994), The SPLA Senior Officers’ Conference, Moyo district-Uganda, Sukun (October 1995), The Civil Authority Society Conference, New Kush, The SPLM/SRR/International and Local NGOs Conference, New Kush, The Wunlit Peace Conference of the New Sudan and New Site (2003).
Work experience
– SPLM National Convention Documents held in Chukudum.
– SPLM Civil Society Conference Documents held in New Kush.
– SPLM-NGO Conference held at MoyoSukun, Chukudum.
– SPLA Senior Officers’ Conference Documents, MoyoSukun.
– The New Sudan Laws.
– Prepared Minutes and Resolutions of the two SPLM/A National Liberation Council meetings held in Chukudum (1994) and Gorok, Rumbek (1999).
– Prepared Minutes and Resolutions of the SPLA Offices’ Conference held at MoyoSukun.
South Sudan According to Martin and his quest for transformation
The Republic of South Sudan emerged from its colonial and neo-colonial past when it obtained its independence on the 9th July 2011, after formally seceding from the Republic of Sudan, before seceding, South Sudan suffered from political, social, cultural, and economic oppression and exploitation.
These conditions gave rise to nationalist feelings, especially among the people of South Sudan under the British Colonialists, South Sudanese and northern elites jointly fought for the independence of Sudan and got the Sudanese independence on the 1st January 1956. Therefore, under the rule of various Northern elites in the Democratic Republic of Sudan, South Sudanese fought two protracted liberation struggles firstly, under the Anya-Nya in (1955- 2005), and the second under the SPLA/SPLM Liberation Movement (1983-2005).
The SPLM/SPLM in the course of its different stages of development later turned into the SPLM/A. The SPLM/A right from the start had clear objectives for its Liberation struggle and set out what to do in the form of its vision and Mission guided by its core values and principles [SPLM Manifesto and constitution] which is to build an inclusive, democratic, and developmental state which is now the Republic of South Sudan to spearhead rapid Human and sustainable socio-economic development and an environmental green economy.
The state, rooted in its African culture and heritage shall steadfastly lead, promote and maintain South Sudan as an African Nation with it a mission to construct a knowledge-based economy in the Republic of South Sudan and to build a nation and a society inspired by peace, Freedom, Justice, Unity, Prosperity, and Progress.
Equally to ensure Democracy under the rule of law and good governance and safeguard fundamental human, economic, social, cultural, and religious rights and freedom. Guided by its core values and principles based on the nature of history and Liberation struggle for freedom and Independence, the key principle/core values were formulated to guide the Liberation Movement includes Peace, Defence, Security, Freedom, Justice, Unity, Prosperity, and Progress.
The three strategic and only total emancipation of the republic of South Sudan from the Legacies of Colonialism and underdevelopment, negative ethnicity, gender inequality, religious bigotry, and under cultural domination is for the people to build an inclusive, secular democratic and developmental state which is now the Republic of South Sudan to spearhead rapid human and sustainable socio-economic development and an environmental green economy.
The newly independent South Sudan had to set up different institutions including the parliament to govern its people. The National Legislature as one of the three arms of Government is first and central to the proper functioning of the other two arms of Government, namely the Executive and Judiciary. For example, if the National Legislature discharges its oversight role effectively, the other is of government will be efficient and effective in discharging its functional roles. But the centrality and efficacy of the current parliament have been seriously affected by several problems.
These problems are what have caused the current crises in the Transitional National Assembly (TNLA) and have made it idiosyncratic and dysfunctional. These idiosyncrasies have been spelled out in the SPLM Special caucus meeting held in the Parliament Building on 15th and 18th November 2019. In it, the following were the major problems.
Rampant Mal-administration for example interfering with duties that are for civil servants, usurping procurement process, and so on, which has boiled down to low morale of both the Honorable members and staff of parliament that is to say from seniors to the laborers. This problem has almost brought down the total collapse of the administration of parliament, and if left unchanged it might cripple the running of the country as a whole because parliament represents the will of the people of this country. Hence, the wellbeing of Honorable members of parliament for example their security, financial and medical needs, etc and of all the staff of parliament is of paramount importance and should be sufficiently addressed once and for all. Doing so shall improve the status and standing of MPs as people’s Representative’s worthy of being respected and valued.
Financial Mal-practices for example corrupt practices like an exaggeration of budgets for occasional activities of parliament, misappropriation of funds/monies meant for other purposes, etc …it has been said within and outside the corridors of parliament that, corruption or certain elements of it are practiced in the parliament. It is now time these elements of corruption are checked and rooted out before the parliament can justifiably and majestically assume its role of over sighting other arms of Government and addressing issues of corruption. It is high time the parliament rids itself of these filthy practices and works with the president/presidency to save this country from corruption and all other vices that are depriving our citizens of their rights of basic and developmental services.
Legislative problems. Parliament has enacted so many laws most of which are not published, enforced, and disseminated to the people of this country. It is the absolute role of parliament to make sure that these laws are published, disseminated, and enforced by the Executive arm of Government. But this role has been adequately used. It is believed that ‘if this role is appropriately used, it could save the government from many ills including disagreements that can lead to violent conflict or war.
“As one of the long-serving members of the parliament from 2010 to date, I am well placed to address these and other problems facing the parliament in particular and the country at large. For, I am bringing on board my long-term administrative experiences as a senior member of SPLM who held several administrative positions (see details in the attached CV),”
Date of birth:06/02/1952 Place of birth:Torit-south Sudan Languages:English (Excellent), French (Good), Swahili (Good), Italian (Fairly good), Acholi/Lango (Excellent), Arabic (Fairly Good), Lotuko (Excellent), Luganda (Fair), Bari (Fair), Dinka Padang (Fair), Ethiopian Amharic (Fair).
Marital status: Married Religion: Christian Political Party: SPLM (Loyalty 100%) Hobbies/Special Interests .Reading,Travelling, Adventures, Listening to music, Networking
.Driving/site-seeing, Picnicking, Visiting Villages and the people
.Love for class Social Clubs and interacting with their Members
Key Dignitaries Met While in the SPLM Office, Nairobi and/or during Mission in the Company of Dr. John Garang de Mabior as the Chairman of the SPLM and C-in-C of SPLA and then Commanders Salva Kiir Mayardit as the Deputy Chairman of SPLM/SPLA C-in-C
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United States of America
>.Susan Rice, Director then, as National Security Advisor to President Bill Clinton at the White House Washington DC.
>.senator, Donald Payne, Democrat from New Jersey at the American House of Congress, Washington DC.
>.senator, Frank Wolf, Conservative Evangelical Republican from Virginia at the House of Congress, Washington DC.
>.Senator, John Danforth at the House of Congress, Washington DC.
>.Brain de Silva, Senior USAID Official, SAID Headquarters, Washington DC.
>.Roger Winter Director of the US Commission for Refugees,
>.Ted Dagne of the Congressional Research Centre.
>. Steven Schwartz Desk Officer, State Department at the Pentagon, Washington Dc.
The Vatican
.Pope John Paul II and the Vatican Secretary of State during his time
.Pope Benedict XVI before he became Pope, was in charge of Inter Religious Dialogue Department in the Vatican
Norway
*Hilde Johnson as Minister of International Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Oslo.
*Ambassadors, Per Haugestad (Nairobi) and Honebo…… (Oslo)
*Haille Jorn Hansen, NPA Secretary General, Oslo
*StenRino, NPA Resident Representative, Nairobi
*Helge Rohn NPA Resident Representative, Nairobi
*Lars Kautsen, NPA Resident Representative, Nairobi
*Gunnar Sorbo, University of Berne, Norway
* Dan Eiffe, NPA in Nairobi
*Ken Miller, NPA in Nairobi
*HalvorAschjem, Oslo/Nairobi Based
*GaimKebreab, NCA Resident Representative in Nairobi
*Stein Nillumtad, NCA Resident Personal Data Agee Vatnadalen, NPA in Nairobi Representative in Nairobi
*Christen Nasey, NCA Country Director in Nairobi
*BiorgMide, NCA Country Director in Nairobi
Switzerland
: Swiss Ambassador, Joseph Buher in Nairobi
: Swiss Deputy Ambassador, Andrea Simone in Nairobi
Italy
>.Senator, RinoSerri, Minister for Italian International Cooperation and Development
>.Senior Officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Africa Desk
>.President (Rtd Francesco Cassiva in Rome)
>.Italian Radio, RAI Radio
>.Fr.Don Mateo and Dr.Fabio Ricardo of the Communita di sanfEgidio, a powerful secular Peace Advocacy Civil Society Organization, Rome.
>.Ambassador, Di Leo in Nairobi
>.Ambassador, Delamini….in Nairobi.
>.Luka Sampeti, D/Ambassador in Nairobi.
Germany
.Ministry of foreign affairs senior Official
.Head of Main Political Parties of the German Parliament (The Bundestag)
.Radio DeutcheWelle, Africa Desk Department in Bonn
The IGAD Regional Countries
: President Daniel T.ArapMoi of Kenya
: Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Key Ministers of Ethiopia
: President Isaiah Afeworki and key Ministers and Party Members of Eritrea
: Kenya’s Foreign Ministers Kalonzo Musyoka and BonayaGodona,
: Kenya’s Ambassadors Betuel Kiplagat, Ambassador Daniel Mboya and General Lazarus Sumbeiywo
: All IGAD Countries Special Envoys to IGAD peace Talks
: Members of the IGAD Secretariat managed by Mrs. FelicitaKeiru and Ambassador, Susan Page
Also Met
*President Paul Kagame of Rwanda in Kigali
*President Laurent Kabila of DRC in Kinshasa
*Joseph Kabila of before becoming President in Kinshasa
*President Kenneth Kaunda on a transit trip at Nairobi Airport The European Union (EU) .The EU Countries Ambassadors at The time boned in Nairobi
.various Members of EU mission sent from Brussels, EU Headquarters
Countries visited in Political/Diplomatic Shuttles
>The United States of America, Norway, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, The Vatican, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa
Major International NGOs and Organization Based in Nairobi interacted with while in Nairobi
*Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
*Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
*Catholic Relief Services/Caritas International (CRS)
*Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
*National Democratic Institute (NDI)
*The National Republican Institute (NRI)
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