![South Sudan state of Warrap where Tonj County lies [Photo via Wikipedia]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/440px-Warrap_Map.svg_.png?resize=1024%2C550&ssl=1)
Dr. Deng said the current political situation in the state was characterized by poor leadership and a lack of developmental initiatives which has forced him to lobby for the top position and save the state.
“I professionally declare myself for the governorship position in Warrap State, to be the people’s governor,” Dr. Deng said. “The reason for the decision is that I have been in the state for four years working in various positions under different governors but I have seen that most of them have not presented very good or accurate developmental projects for the state.”
He added: “There are no reforms that have been made until now and it motivated me to declare myself for the position. So, I am now officially a candidate looking for that position.”
Dr. Deng said if he is appointed to the position, he will make reforms in the state’s security sector and institute developmental programs.
“I have clear developmental programs that if I am brought in as governor, I can be able to reform or change the state in terms of development and security,” Dr. Deng said.
He acknowledged that there are no elections at the moment but said he was lobbying politically to be appointed to the position.
“As of now, there are no elections but the normal procedures that we follow is that you have to lobby. I know many people have decided to move at night seeking for the same position but I have decided to come out openly to the public so that they know that I don’t want to steal their position,” Dr. Deng explained. “I want the position officially, I want their endorsement. I want the people to support me. So, I have to lobby through people so that they can take my message to the appointing authority.”
He appreciated the current governor, Gen. Aleu Ayeiny, and said he had done his part and his best.
“I want to appreciate Governor Aleu. He did his part and he has tried his best to do something but it is not enough. The state government has failed to address the issue of insecurity and institute developmental projects. If given the opportunity, I can address those issues,” Dr. Deng said.
He said that while he served the government in various capacities, he was able to deliver clean water to the rural communities by drilling new and rehabilitating boreholes and served well as state health minister. He added that as trade minister, he launched a development plan to improve the state’s economy through developing gum acacia and the hides and skins trade.
Dr. Anthony Jong Deng was dismissed from his ministerial position by the state governor on 24 November and is currently a lecturing veterinary science at the University of Bahr el Ghazal.
From 2017 to 2018, he was minister of animal recourses and fisheries and minister of rural development from 2018 to 2019. In 2020, Dr. Deng was appointed health minister in the now-defunct Gogorial State.
