Grand Chief maintains stand on O’Neill’s removal

Founding father and East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare maintains his stand and calls on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to submit to the law and appropriate authorities.

“I have made my call for Mr O’Neill to submit to the law and appropriate authorities and I stand by my statement.

Sir Michael said, “Instead of deflecting attention away from the issue at hand, I once again appeal to O’Neill to surrender to the law.”

“As former prime ministers, it is incumbent upon both Sir Mekere Morauta and I to request your cooperation to show there is one law for everybody.

“Surrounding yourself with heavily armed guards to avoid the service of warrants of arrests is inappropriate and deeming to the Office of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Sir Michael said closing down anti-corruption offices and not appointing a Chief Ombudsman Commissioner for more than a year are serious governance matters.

“For the sake of good governance I again urge Mr O’Neill to submit to orders of the court and the laws of Papua New Guinea,” Sir Michael said.

O’Neill in a statement says the recent comments by Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and Sir Mekere Morauta calling for his removal are self-serving and simply unnecessary from a person who has been hell-bent on removing this Government since losing power in 2011.

“Whilst these matters are before the Courts, he has to respect that no person is guilty until proven so in a court of law based on compelling evidence,” O’Neill said.

“I have always stated – show evidence of me benefiting financially or otherwise and I will resign.

“I would never do so because Somare or Mekere Morauta think I should, their motive is simply sour grapes,” said O’Neill.

 

Author: 
Freddy Mou