Pledges jobs for periphery towns
New Salah Al-Din governor strikes inclusive tone in statement
SALAH Al-DIN – Governor Ahmed Al-Jubouri, also known as “Abu Mazen,” pledged to extend job opportunities to residents beyond the immediate purview of the provincial council. This move, aimed at districts such as Balad, Dujail, Amerli, and Tuz Khurmatu, comes amid a complex backdrop of political negotiations and accusations of bias within local governance.
Governor Al-Jubouri’s statement, released following a contentious session of the Salah al-Din Provincial Council on February 4, 2024, seeks to address the flurry of accusations and incidents that have marred the council’s recent activities. “We are confident that they amount to differences in perspectives that are subject to correction, emphasizing that everyone’s right to administer the governorate is guaranteed without discrimination,” Al-Jubouri asserts.
His remarks aim to quell concerns over fairness and inclusivity in the distribution of power and resources within the governorate, promising jobs for residents of other towns in the governorate beyond the capital, Tikrit.
Full statement
We have followed the subsequent statements from the session of the Salah al-Din Provincial Council, and we would like to clarify the accusations and incidents mentioned in them. We are confident that they amount to differences in perspectives that are subject to correction, emphasizing that everyone’s right to administer the governorate is guaranteed without discrimination.
The session held on February 4, 2024, involved intense discussions and meetings, lasting a full month, with various political blocs in Baghdad, represented in the Salah al-Din Provincial Council. However, members of the council from these blocs revolted against the will of their blocs, each aspiring to secure the coveted position of the Provincial Council.
Although agreements led to the election of the local government in this manner without compromising the rights of components, we expressed complete transparency in the negotiations. We realized that understanding is the only way to reach a secure future, achieve the promised reconstruction, and uphold the rights of our people in all of Salah al-Din.
Blaming a specific entity or component requires an examination of facts and developments. The Coordination Framework delegated a specific entity to negotiate in Salah al-Din, according to the ‘one basket’ rule. As we do not interfere in the choices of these forces, their differences in options and each winner’s attempt to secure the positions of ‘council president’ or ‘deputy governor’ reflected in the final agreements was due to their individual choices, not another factor.
While we hope for participation and convergence from everyone, we affirm our commitment not to compromise the rights of our sons in Balad, Dujail, Tuz Khurmatu, and Amerli. We express our full readiness to grant them positions outside the scope of the Provincial Council, with the agreement of all the represented forces. This reflects our recognition of their importance and underscores that Salah al-Din governorate belongs to all its residents, not exclusively to one party over another. We emphasize that overcoming such obstacles is inevitable, considering the significant commonalities and eternal coexistence among all sects and components.
Abu Mazen will remain the obedient son, loyal brother, and compassionate father to all the beloved people of the governorate.
Al-Sadiqoun bloc reacts to election of Ahmed Al-Jubouri as Salah Al-Din governor
