The Central Equatoria State government officials failed to turn up for the Kajo-Keji road fundraising function held on Saturday at Nyakuron Cultural Centre.
Alex Liki Ruben, the Chairperson of Voluntary Service Committee said that they are supplementing the efforts of government as per the austerity measures. [Misuk Moses Mule]
By Misuk Moses Mule
JUBA, 24 March 2013 [Gurtong]- Anonymous sources reveal that the state officials who were officially invited but did not attend the function because the committee decided to invite the president directly.
The state governor, his deputy and the Speaker did not show up for the fundraising and did not send anybody to represent the state government.
However, some of the state ministers were there as sons of Kajo-Keji County but not as state representatives.
Alex Liki Ruben, the Chairperson of Voluntary Service Committee said that once someone is invited for a function, it a choice to attend.
“Once you invite people, it’s not a must that all of them will come. Maybe they are committed somewhere,” he said.
He argued that voluntary service is a right and that they are supplementing the efforts of government as per the austerity measures.
“We are going to take our own part to add to the government. As we wait for long term solution, we need to mobilize resources to fill some of these terrible gaps,” he said.
He said that with the coming of the rainy season, Kajo-Keji is going to be hovered from Juba adding that the county produces surplus of agricultural produce yet they have no market from within.
Intellectuals from the county, youth and politicians attended the fundraising.
President Salva Kiir was also invited but did not show up only to send his Legal Advisor Telar Deng.
Sources also reveal that the Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County, Prof. Ben Yengi was sent back on Friday by the state authorities as such he could not attend the fundraising.
Gurtong tried to contact him but his number was unreachable while efforts to talk to the state authorities were in vein.