Patrick Ebong
There has been mixed reaction in the Lango Cultural Institution after the Paramount Chief Yosam Odur Ebii dropped one of his favourite Ministers over allegations of plotting to overthrow.
The Paramount Chief alleges that Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune, the cultural minister for the Lango community in the diaspora has been convening illegal meetings with other faction of clan leaders with plans to dethrone him.
Addressing mourners on Tuesday this week at the burial of his late daughter in law Mrs Filder Olobo at his residential home in Teboke parish in Apac district, the Paramount Chief said he had relieved one of his ministers.
“The Lango Community in Diaspora will now have to elect their own representative to represent them in Lango Cultural Foundation”, the Paramount Chief told thousands of mourners who included Odongo Okune.
The Paramount Chief claimed that Odongo Okune has been facilitating clan heads with huge sums of money under unclear circumstances.
Dr Eng Moses Michael Odongo Okune is the Executive Director of Uganda Road Fund and the Chairman of Engineers Registration Board and has until the firing been regarded by a section of clan leaders as a ‘’super minister’’ due to his closeness with the Paramount Chief.
As head of the Lango in the diaspora, Odongo was in-charge of coordinating activities of the cultural institution with government, the lango in the diaspora and mobilizing for funds to implement the cultural institution’s activities.
The sacking of Odongo Okune has drown mixed reaction from the public. Mr Opio Okori Jurubabel, the clan head of Adok Oyengowoo who has been the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development has tendered in his resignation in protest.
In the letter dated July 13, Opio Okori stated that he had decided to step down because he feels the Paramount Chief used a wrong forum (funeral) to fire his minister in front of mourners who had gone to console him.
“This was very embarrassing and I fear to be embarrassed in the same way that is why I have taken this decision to resign”, part of the letter by Opio Okori reads.
However Jacob Ocen, the deputy information minister of the Lango cultural foundation where the paramount chief is head said the Paramount chief has powers to appoint and disappoint at any time he feels is appropriate.
The former Senior Information Cultural Minister Willy Omodo Omodo counseled the Paramount chief should have called for the general council of Owitonge (clan heads meeting) and use the forum to relive Odongo Okune off his duties.
Mr. Joel Odongo Amen who is the Clan leader of Atek Omwon-pel, where the Paramount Chief belongs has written an apology to the clan members of Okar Omwono condemning the action of their clan member (the Paramount Chief).
In the letter dated July 14, Odongo Amen promised to organize a reconciliatory meeting between the two clans. Odong Okune is the clan leader of Okar Omwono
In Lango, the Paramount Chief appoints ministers who are then approved by the general council of Owitong.
In a telephone interview with our report on Friday, Eng. Dr. Michael Odongo Okune denied the allegations of plotting to overthrow Yosam Odur. He said he will continue to carry out his mandates as the head of Diaspora since he is accountable to council of Owitong that gave him another five year term to serve during the June 20th 2016 Meeting at Lango cultural center.
