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By: Emad Ding ✍️✍️✍️
There is no doubt that people come in different types: some speak little and do much; others talk endlessly without action; some tell the truth, while others lie about people. With the rapid rise of digital platforms turning into open arenas for opinion and counter-opinion, no leader, project, or successful idea has been immune to campaigns of doubt, accusation, or malicious interpretation… and Dr. Shoul Ding Tong, Deputy Minister of Petroleum, is no exception.
However, the key difference was not in the volume of what was being said, but in the manner of response. There was no impulsive reaction, no race to reply… he continues on his path as if quietly asserting: work is the best response.
While some platforms were buzzing with accusations and claims of betrayal, the Deputy Minister and his team were occupied with pivotal, critical files in the petroleum sector—strengthening the country’s sovereignty over the sector, including the case of the Malaysian company Petronas.
The undeniable truth is the close connection between this file and the name of Deputy Minister Dr. Shoul Ding Tong. From the very beginning of disentangling Petronas from the petroleum sector in South Sudan, through various critical junctures, the Deputy Minister worked in his different terms with effort, courage, and decisiveness… culminating recently in the final resolution of this file with the official transfer of shares to the National Oil and Gas Company (NilePet), which will elevate the status of the national company, contribute to national economic development, and create job opportunities for various groups.
Despite the accumulated complexities and challenges surrounding the sector—which partially manifest in rumors and the demonization of the Deputy Minister and his team—the Deputy Minister chose his priorities and a clear path, guided by a well-defined roadmap, in alignment with the directives of the country’s top leadership and the requirements of the current phase.
Those who govern themselves by reason and logic will see that the organization and stability of the projects mentioned above are not accidental but the result of careful and conscious planning. Actions speak louder and stronger than words… and this is precisely the approach the Deputy Minister adopted, visible to all who seek to see, and heard by all ears that pretend to be deaf.
Abdullah Al-Sayed Al-Hashemi was right when he said: “True achievement does not require much defense but rather continuity and steadfastness.”
In an age of noise, sincere work remains the loudest voice; in an age of doubt, results remain the proof. Those who move steadily toward their goals pay little attention to those who try to hinder them because they know history does not record noise—it immortalizes those who build and build well.
This national achievement will be counted among the merits contributed by Comrade Dr. Shoul Ding Tong, Deputy Minister of Petroleum, and his team as a gift to the people and the nation. I consider it the beginning of a long journey. In his first welcoming speech, he said: “Our fathers and forefathers struggled and sacrificed dearly to achieve this country’s freedom, and it has been realized. As for us, our struggle is to preserve this historical legacy through development, fulfill the aspirations of the people, and elevate the status of this nation.” This is the approach he follows, and the remarkable distinction between him and others: a commendable method and an exemplary path.
Arop
