Bells toll for Peter O'Neill as 5 governors quit his party
26 April 2019
NEWS DESK | Radio New Zealand
AUCKLAND - Five members of Papua New Guinea's government have resigned from the party of prime minister Peter O'Neill.
Influential Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas is among those resigning from the People's National Congress.
Five government MPs, including four from the same resource rich Highlands region where Peter O'Neill is from, held a press conference late this morning in Port Moresby.
Sir Peter was flanked by the governors of Southern Highlands and Hela provinces, William Powi and Philip Undialu and two other MPs.
They announced their resignation from PNC, the party which has dominated PNG politics for the past several years.
It's the latest sign that Mr O'Neill's support is collapsing and the government could soon change, and follows the resignation of two high level government ministers earlier this month.
Mr O'Neill is currently in Beijing with a government delegation, attending China's Belt and Road global forum.
PNG's parliamentary opposition is planning on tabling a motion of no-confidence against the prime minister when parliament resumes next month.
Sir Peter Ipatas the Governor of Enga, 'Papa stret blo Enga', the concerned father. Why did not he join Don Polye to form THE party when Don was with the opposition?
If he had joined THE party, today he would be either alternative PM or already PM of PNG. He and Don Polye had a tribal conflict in Enga so they were once enemies.
Honourable MPs of Jiwaka appointed him to be the alternative prime minister but he could not because he missed his chance.
He is an action governor and he should have done amazing changes to the Opposition if he had joined Don Polye. If Enga's Haus Man bagarap then how will we Enga people fixim blo tupla lida blo mipla!
Posted by: Porap Gai | 08 May 2019 at 10:52 AM
It's called survival mode, Louis.
They can see that O'Neill is unlikely to survive a vote of no confidence and are getting out before they become collateral damage.
There's nothing moral about their decision.
They are doing what all politicians do, looking after their own best interests.
They are hypocrites.
Posted by: Philip Fitzpatrick | 27 April 2019 at 10:23 AM
Why did these governors not resign earlier and change the O'Neill government? Why now?
Let the game begin. Bring it on, Bryan Kramer and Mekere Morauta.
Posted by: Louis Kulalin | 27 April 2019 at 08:38 AM
It is better for Peter O'Neill to resign and create the way for a new government. If he doesn't he will be forced out in the coming vote of no confidence. As a result he will face more consequences.
Posted by: Philip Kai Morre | 26 April 2019 at 11:03 PM
Eight million reasons, the people who matter, the population of PNG, will be ringing in ears.
Five sets of ears may be hearing reasoning amid cacophony but is their alignment as of knell?
One reasons that voices bell-ting about bad roads, lack of adequate services, and will-ting o'kneel.
Posted by: Lindsay F Bond | 26 April 2019 at 08:10 PM
Interesting that they waited until he was out of the country.
Posted by: Ross Wilkinson | 26 April 2019 at 06:47 PM