IS IPATAS A SUITABLE NOMINEE TO REPLACE PMJM?

Counsel Laken Lepatu, Runner Up Enga Provincial NGE2022

by Laken Lepatu Aigilo

Port Moresby

09th April, 2025

"I went against PMJM and stood with our vibrant Opposition as a citizen and advocated for change like I always do and welcomed the Court Victory but I question the nominee’s credibility to lead our nation. With respect, ‘Is he a fit and proper person to replace PMJM’?

I challenged the nominee twice at Provincial Seat (which I won but he rigged counting) based on many reasons but the chief reasons are zero service delivery, no policy on law & order issues & mismanagement of Porgera Gold Benefits.

Zero Service Delivery."

Comparatively, Governor's budget more than the Open MPs. Governors raise internal revenue (like K113.8 million internal revenue raised by WHP in 2024 - see WHP fb page) as well as external like National Budget, PSIP, aids etc. In 2023, the nominee budgeted K514 million, that’s without Porgera Gold but imagine with Gold.

That shows the nominee’s annual budget is more than K500 million. In my campaign, I have travelled length and breadth of all 6 districts in Enga but found not even a single service delivered by the nominee in the last 27 years tenure except few services at Wabag Town like the K600 Million hospital, Teachers College or IBS etc established by either National Government or Porgera Tax Credit Scheme.

The only service I recall delivered by the nominee is K2 million Wabag toilet project. The Wabag Market and others are by Open MPs. The nominee does not support or partner with the Open MPs as well, most of the Open MPs are his enemies. On the ground, there’s no evidence of billions budged for the last 27 years. Wabag is not Enga! The praises and photographs of Wabag services are media propaganda by kaikai-mans for their rice plate! Enga is still at Stone-Age.

No Policy On Law & Order.

The nominee is seen vocal on law & order issues on Media & Parliament but he has never formulated any policy on how to curb tribal-fights in Enga. See WHP Governor Hon. Wai Rapa, a first term but he had developed a policy where he is physically attending hotspots by mediating issues among warring tribes and giving both sides money as compensation or to recover their loses & prevents fighting, a very effective policy! One of his Open MPs Hon. Win Daki praised him in parliament last time & admired him. Another example I recall is former MP for Wabag Sam Abal who put up "Lusim gun, holim sapol" policy which he effectively implemented it. I heard former governors like Torato, and Malipu applied similar polices like Rapa but Ipatas runs away when there’s a tribal-fight. Bible says 'take the first step and I will take the rest'. Yu no kisim first step na singaut lo ol narapla lo kam kisim first step blo yu ya ino karim kaikai! Far worse, there are serious allegations against the nominee & an arrest warrant in place that he caused the Kompiam-Ambum tribal-fights which means him or his associates are cause of some of the tribal fights in Enga. The nominee has failed in providing leadership on the law & order issues affecting his Province.

Mismanagement Of Porgera Gold Benefits.

According to a report published by the Porgera Joint Venture-PJV in 23 July 2020 (see attached), it is estimated that the nominee received over K1.5 billion from the Porgera Gold Project. That is inclusive of almost K400 million paid to Enga Children’s Fund which is now deregistered. That is equivalent to K70 to K80 Million every year. Imagine if the nominee had invested this money, at this juncture after 27 years, Enga Children’s Fund would be a multi-billion entity today or Enga would have a multi-billion business empire. Sadly, there is none! Province olsem WNB winim mipla. I heard he sold the twin-towers at Hela Beach. The other 2 properties at 7 Mile are in run-down state and I’ am not sure who owns them. All of that money disappeared in thin air!

Newspaper Article. Weekly Bulletin

I compiled a complaint on this mismanagement and lodged it at Police Fraud Squad as well as Ombudsman Commission in April 2021 but received no response from either OC or Police. Two days after I lodged the said complaints, I was kidnapped and almost killed at Baruni Dumb area but God saved my life (I believe most of your heard my story). (Refer to attachments). I lodged a complaint against the nominee and the Kidnappers with the Police but received no response as well. Seems like we have two sets of laws, one for big and one for small people like us.

Based on above, It is my personal opinion that the nominee is not an ideal candidate to lead this country. Lord said 'if you can't manage small things, you can't manage big. If you can't manage your small province, you can't manage the country!

Dear PMJM, once you defeat the VoNC on 15th April 2025, please do a stocktake of your government and listen to our cries.

God bless PNG!