Nunu’s trips justified, MP says in a rebuttal to SPLM-IO

A Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) lawmaker, Daniel Abocha Ali, has come out in defence of Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba, who has been accused of indulging in unnecessary travels out of the country.

The accusation came from SPLM-IO member of R-TNLA, Juol Daniel Nhomngek, who claimed Nunu was spending millions of dollars on ”unnecessary” trips.

“If the government of South Sudan collapses today, the SPLM-IG should know that the Speaker they have given us is the cause of our failure,” he said.

But in a quick rejoinder, Abocha has described Mr Nhomngek’s accusations against Nunu as ‘‘baseless, misguided, and unfounded” saying his speaker is not extravagant.’’

“First and foremost, it should be noted that the current National Assembly is constituted of many different parties who are signatories to the Revitalised Peace Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Any attack on one member of a particular party is a direct attack on the party that the attacked member represents.

‘‘For that matter, the continuous accusations against the Rt. Hon. Speaker by some members of SPLM I.O and their allies amounts to a direct attack on SPLM because of the Rt. Hon. Speaker doesn’t represent herself in the position she is holding but she is there on the ticket of SPLM, “Mr Ali responded.

Ali stated that he would not be able to keep mute and watch his party attacked with unfounded allegations, adding that none of the attacks against the Speaker was initiated by any SPLM member and hence must be addressed.

‘‘We are not an island; we are part of the globalised world, so our participation as Parliament in the international arena is enshrined in our constitution.

‘‘You must also know that the Speaker is constitutionally duty-bound to represent our Parliament in international and regional forums, not you, so where does the motion of unproductive and expensive trips come from?’’ He questioned