Parties of Agnuak, Nuer and Mezhenger nationalities merging

November 21, 2007 (Gambella) – The first phase conference on the merger of the Agnuak, Nuer and Mezhenger peoples democratic movements to establish a united party was opened today.

Ato Omod Obong

Gambella State Chief Administrator and Chairperson of Agnuak People Democratic Organization, Umod Ubong, said at a conference that marked the dissolution of the organization that the three organizations have decided to free the people from poverty and backwardness, ensure peace and development and eradicate tribalism and cliquish attitudes.

The activities the three organizations used to undertake unilaterally were mostly narrow and parochial rather than development-oriented, he said, adding that their merger is thus appropriate and could ensure sustainable peace and development in the millennium.

Though limited success was registered in the isolated activities taken over the past years, making the public beneficiaries of development at the desired level was not possible, according to the Chief Administrator. The merger would enable to undertake considerable works that make the people get involved in development and derive their due benefits, he stressed.

Umod further pointed out that since it is impossible to alleviate the various social, economic, good governance and development problems of the state with the sole effort of the government, the merger would speed up the development endeavors by involving all the nations and nationalities of the state from planning up to evaluation.

In addition to making development activities continuous and sustainable, the merging political organizations will lay the foundation for shoring up the relationship between the government and the people thereby ensuring transparency and a democratic order, he noted.

The Chief Administrator further stated that prior to its dissolution the political organization which represented the Agnuak people will apologize for failing to deliver the desired level of development.

In the two-day conferences to be held in Gambella and Godere towns, performance report and audit reports of each organization as well as statue of the party to be created--Gambella People Democratic Movement-- and election of participants for the merger conference would be carried out, it was indicated.

(WIC)