“I expected all of you to come and meet me after swearing in but only Mr. Tom Otim reached my palace. Appointed chairman of the Electoral Commission should have been sworn in the office again but not to start working without an appointment," the letter reads in part.
Mzee Yosam Odur-Ebii, the Lango Paramount Chief has indefinitely suspended the activities of
the Electoral Commission of Lango cultural foundation. The seven-member commission chaired by Tom Otim, a retired
head teacher was named during a cultural
council meeting held on Tuesday, November 7th, 2023.
The commission was tasked with
the responsibility of foreseeing the election and swearing in Odur's successor. However, in a Dec 4th, 2023 letter, Odur suspended the activities of the commission because of the failure to appear before and follow the law
governing elections in Lango Cultural Foundation. “I expected all of you to come and meet me after swearing in
but only Mr. Tom Otim reached my palace. Appointed chairman of the Electoral
Commission should have been sworn in the office again but not to start working
without an appointment," the letter reads in part.
Adding that “The So-Called Road map that was put before the
council should have been submitted to the Executive not directly to the Lango Cultural
Foundation Council. It is the role of the executive to take such matters to the
council.” He argued that people are forcing him out of his
tenure yet he has many things to do before he can safely retire to pave the way for
another person.
Luo bite:
//Cue in: “Dong ero ko…
Cue out: … gite dang aweko.”//
He also expressed disappointment over information that
the electoral commission is collecting money from his subjects to facilitate
the electoral process. “I have heard there are requests for money for the work of
the EC, this should be put before the Executive. Nobody has power to collect
money without the executive’s knowledge and the EC is not even allowed to
solicit money from outside the country.” Odur also banned the newly constituted members of the
Itogo (Dispute Resolution Committee) on the grounds that they are too young to
understand cultural matters.
Luo bite:
//Cue in: “Itogo onwongo amito…
Cue out: … tuno ipyera-bongwen.”//
Tom Otim, the chairperson of the electoral commission expressed utter shock, saying that he had not received any official
communication from the paramount chief but rather heard the information
from the mainstream media. He further explained that members of the commission were sworn in in the presence of the paramount chief and given a task to accomplish.
Luo bite:
//Cue in: “Wan obin okwongere…
Cue out: … dong otim ngo?//
Meanwhile, Bishop Emeritus John Charles Odur Kami, a member
of the Itogo who said they were nominated and sworn in in the presence of Odur explained that the old man is being coerced by some individuals who want to bring
shame to Lango.
//Cue in: “Itogo inino caa…
Cue out: … is very unfortunate.”//
On Tuesday, members of the Itogo held their first meeting in
which they were expected to elect their executive committee and draw a road map
for their activities.
