IPATAS : THE KINGMAKER WANTS TO BE THE KING

Grand Chief, Sir Hon Peter, Provincial MP Enga

by Political Observer

Port Moresby

04th April, 2025

The battle for the Prime Minister's chair in the 2024 VONC draws another key player into the fore. You know. You would not be surprised. He is the popular IPATAS---The king maker!

O, but this name appears to be synonymous with lawlessness. Is he the proper and right person? You be the judge!

Is Ipatas a warlord? Of course not. He is a mysterious king of Enga. Is Enga a forsaken land? No---God forbid. There are still some good men in Enga.

But violence, death and fear in the land of Enga is a daily cause for concern. In many instances, it bears the footprints of this mysterious king and his henchmen.

His tales of exploits are enormous. This mysterious king's footprints are so graphically showcased in the turmoil of election results and tribal fights in Wabag, Kandep, Kombiam Ambum Valley and Laigam.

IPATAS is a mysterious king of Enga land, but an unpredictable monster. His political rivals know this fact, but they don't surrender to his whims.

They are regrouping and waiting for the right time to finish him off. He will be history!

This mysterious king has a big ego (Winim bilong Lucifer long heven). His appetite for power is so big. He forever dreams to be the Prime Minister of PNG, but he will never be one!

In Kombiam valley, his hired warlords burnt down everything to ashes. He was trying to teach Pundari some hard lessons!

Pundari knows Ipatas, but not enough. One fine day Ipatas will know what Pundari is made of. But let the dust settle first and let time heal the wounds.

Engans are always fascinated by the tale of these two kings. Engan folklore regard them as "mysterious gods".

Come every election day, IPATAS has one agenda. That is to finish off Pundari and his Liberal Party. Pundari also wants to finish him off.

No one wins in this tug of war. Women, children and young men are the victims. Time will be the judge. Engans will know who is the real king of Enga land.

This mysterious king of Enga's appetite for influence does not stop only in the Kombiam valley. His footprints are obvious in Kandep too.

Who is the king in this barren land? Kandepians know who their god is. Don Polye appears to be the chief in this mysterious Valley.

Uncontrolled tribal fights and widespread lawlessness in this valley also has the footprints of the mysterious king of Enga. But local warlords dispute his legitimacy, including Polye.

Polye buries his hurts and betrayal in tandem. He just waits for an opportune moment to square up things.

Just recently he was seen with Ipatas singing a local hit song in a public rally at Aipus Rugby Oval.

This relationship is temporary. Polye has an elephant memory. He will finish off Ipatas one day.

Recenly during the Laigam by-election, the widespread mayhem in Wabag town was the talk of the country. In Port Moresby, Engans were depressed by the madness of Ipatas and his lieutenant Kapili.

IPATAS gave false assurance of security. He madly supported Kapili. But Kapili's inability to muster absolute majority was disastrous for Ipatas. He had to secure win for Kapili by anything necessary---but it was a futile endeavour.

They lost miserably. This is the beginning of his downfall. He will be gone. Engans know the strategies he employs. Now they are prepared to shoot him down. He will be history.

Lawlessness is a big issue with Ipatas. This curse continues unabated and Enga bleeds profusely with constant tribal fights, destruction and death.

Who in his right mind would discuss with Ipatas for the possibility of occupying the office of the Prime Minister? I think none. None! IPATAS is not a fit and proper person to be the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

How can he lead PNG when he has not managed Enga from rampant lawlessness? Elected leaders must not listen to the whispers of this mysterious king of Enga. The kingmaker would never be the king----never!