By Jacob Onuha Nelson
The former Chairman of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) leader, Gabriel Kuot Akok, has resigned from his position and vowed to commit to his career.
In an exclusive phone interview with this outlet on Monday, Kuot stated that the reason why he resigned was due to administration workload since he served as a lawyer and also as the president of PPP for the last four years.
He said during his tenure, he realized that the people were confusing him, and further adding that the people think he is educating the party at capacity level as practising lawyer.
“Because sometimes I needed help to handle some notable cases in the government. So many people took it out of context that I used to sue the government sometimes simply because I’m an official leader” he said.
“Not knowing that as an advocate, as a human rights lawyer, I have an obligation to execute my mandate as a lawyer” he added.
Kuot emphasized that it’s the right time for him to particularly focus on his career advancement, because career is all about him and can still leave politics and come later whenever he desires.
“So, with this, I realised that it is the right time to, particularly this year, to focus on my career advancement. Because career is all about me and politics sometimes. I can leave the politics and I can come again in time. But career is the foundation to my life and I value it much more than politics,” he said.
The advocate underscored that people need to know and perceive that any profession whether you’re a medical doctor, engineer or lawyer can be a politician.
“And people should not mix their duties or perceive it in a different context. Like if I’m working as a lawyer at a particular moment, people should not confuse it with my political affiliation. So South Sudanese need to be politically aware and oriented,” he stated.
He highlighted that in politics, you can act as a politician and also you have your career. Secondly, I want people to know that any politician is not acting on his own behalf or his own interest. He is acting to represent the interest of the people who are being disadvantaged,” he added.
The former party president urged the citizens that people shouldn’t take politics as personal choice or interest but should know that most of political leaders fight for their interest, not their own.
“My last message is that the government also needs to, if the government believes to be a democratic country, then there is a need for people’s political participation and to provide political space to all political parties, whether they have their own interests or not,” he conveyed the message.
However, people of South Sudan are deeply committed to the principles of equality, justice, and inclusive governance.