EES Governor Dissolves And Reappoints New Government

By Peter Lokale Nakimangole
TORIT, 26th January 2012 [Gurtong] – The Governor of Eastern Equatoria State (EES), Hon. Louis Lobong Lojore has dissolved his Government and reappointed a caretaker government.

The move follows the signing of State constitution by the State Governor leading to his swearing in before the public last week on Friday.

The Governor has issued a number of decrees relieving and reappointing Deputy Governor, Advisors, Ministers and County Commissioners pending further State reorganization after the ongoing consultations.

The State Deputy Governor, Hon. Nartisio Loluke Manir who doubled as the State Minister for Local Government & Law Enforcement was relieved from his position and reappointed by Governor’s decree numbers 02/2012 dated 24th January 2012 and 03/2012 dated 24th January 2012 respectively in accordance with powers vested upon the Governor under article 99 section two subsection (a) of the transitional constitution of EES 2011.
 
Another decree dated 24th January, reference number GO/EES/T1.B.5 reads, ‘In exercise of powers vested upon me under article 99(2)[a] of the transitional constitution of Eastern Equatoria State 2011, I Brigadier General Louis Lobong Lojore, Governor of EES, do hereby issue a gubernatorial decree relieving Hon. Nartisio Loluke Manir as Deputy Governor and Minister for Local Government & Law Enforcement with effect from January 24th 2012.”

An immediate decree number 03/2012 bearing similar date and reference number reappointed Hon. Nartisio Loluke Manir as caretaker Deputy Governor with effect from January 24th 2012.
 
Although Hon. Loluke has been reappointed as the caretaker Deputy Governor, the latter Governor’s Decree dictates that the caretaker Deputy Governor shall not perform his usual functions as Deputy but shall not take any major decision or enter into major contractual obligation while discharging his duties in the position.

Similarly empowered by article 99(2)[a] of the transitional constitution of Eastern Equatoria State 2011, the State Governor has issued a separate decree  with number 04/2012 dated 24/01/2012, relieving his 13 Ministers with effect  from 24th January 2012 as follows;

1. Hon. Josephine Akulang Abalang, minister of Finance, Trade & Industry
2. Hon. Nasike Allan Lochul, Minister of Information & Telecommunication,
3. Hon. Michael Lopuke Lotyam, minister of Education, science & Technology,
4. Hon. Jerome Gama Surur, Minister of Agriculture, Cooperatives & Forestry,
5. Hon. Mark Akio Ukinbul, Minister of Housing & Public Utilities,
6. Hon. Sam Felix Makuja, Minister of Health,
7. Hon. Clement Laku Chichim, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs,
8. Hon. Peter Otim Karlo, minister of Transport and Roads,
9. Hon. Emilio William Odingila, Minister of Public Service, Labour & Human Resource Development,
10. Hon. George Echome Ekeno, Minister of Environment, Wildlife conservation & Tourism,
11. Hon. Wilson Lolup Lopatu, Minister of Animal Resources & Fisheries,
12. Hon. Benjamin Banaiah Kitara, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs  & Disaster Management and finally
13. Hon. Magdalena Beato Atiol, Minister of Culture & Social Development.
 
All the relieved ministers have been reappointed by the State Governor under his decree number 05/2012 as caretaker in their former positions with effect from 24th January 2012 pending reorganization of the State Government.
 
Just like the caretaker Deputy Governor, the caretaker Ministers have equally been ordered not to perform their usual functions as ministers and shall not take any major decision or enter into major contractual obligation while discharging their responsibilities.

Under article 99(2)[a] of the transitional constitution of Eastern Equatoria State 2011, the Governor Lobong, with effect from 24th January 2012, furthermore issued a decree number 06 dated 24th January, relieving his three Advisors as follows;

1. Hon. Claudio Suleiman Liling, Advisor on Security,
2. Hon. Alphonse Muras Chacha, Advisor on Political Affairs, Peace & Reconciliation and
3. Hon. Patrick Lodinga Kotein, Advisor on Social Services.

Under the Governor’s decree number 07/2012 dated 24th January 2012 and with effect from 24th January 2012, the Advisors have also been reappointed as caretakers pending the upcoming reorganization of the Government.

Under article 99(2)[a] of the transitional constitution of Eastern Equatoria State 2011, the State Governor issued another decree number 08/2012 dated 24th January 2012 relieving County Commissioners with effect from 24th January 2012 as follows,

1. Hon. Felix Otuduha Siro, Torit County,
2. Hon. Martin Lorika Lojam, Kapoeta South County,
3. Hon. Peter Lokeng Lotone, Ikwoto, County,
4. Hon. Lokai Iko Loteyo,, Kapoeta North County,
5. Hon. Morris Kaunda Merisiya, Budi County and
6. Hon. Titus Lokwacuma Lotyam, Kapoeta East County

Similarly, in accordance with the same article 99(2)[a] of the transitional constitution of Eastern Equatoria State 2011, all the relieved County Commissioners have been reappointed by the State Governor under decree number 09/2012 dated 24/01/2012 as caretaker Commissioners with effect from 24th January 2012 pending reorganization of the State Government.

EES Governor transforms and reconstitutes State Assembly   
Under the Governor’s decree number 01/2012 dated 21st January 2012 whose reference number is GO/EES/T/T/1.B.5, Eastern Equatoria State Governor, Brigadier General Louis Lobong Lojore, became the first State Governor among the 10 States of the Republic of South Sudan to transform and reconstitute the State Legislative Assembly of EES after Independence of the country in July 2011.

Decree number 01/2012 dated 21/1/2012, reference number GO/EES/T/T/1.B.5, reads, “In exercise of powers vested upon me under article 55(4) [a] (b) and 90(2) [3] of the transitional constitution of Eastern Equatoria State 2011, I Brigadier General Louis Lobong Lojore, Governor of EES, do hereby issue the following gubernatorial decree for the transformation and reconstitution of EES Legislative Assembly.