PM O’Neill to accompany late Agiru’s body to Hela

​Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will be accompanying the body of Hela Governor late Anderson Agiru back to his province to pay his respect for the great leader.

Finance Minister and Tari-Pori MP James Marape revealed this when conveying his condolences to the family of Hela Governor late Anderson Pawa Agiru.

Late Agiru passed away on Thursday morning after succumbing to a heart attack. 

In a statement Marape stated: “I have been with Late Agiru since 1991 when he first contested for the Southern Highlands by election and today to see his demise leaves me and his people profound sadness.

“Hela is in mourning and I request our people to be in peace, harmony and unity as we mourn the loss of the Leader of Hela people.

“Our Tari district is putting up the common place of mourning at the Andaija Oval.”

He urged the people of Hela to take this time of sadness and reflect on Agiru's life and the many lessons his leadership thought us.

"I know Agiru's legacies are huge and  I appeal to the Hela people to appreciate his leadership, come together and forge unity amongst ourself so that Agiru's vision of a prosperous Hela and SHP can start with this spirit of unity and sorrow we are now experiencing in our time of mourning. "

“We will be having visitors from the rest of country and particularly our friends and relatives from SHP and Enga hence I ask Hela and especially my Tari Pori people to be good host in these period of mourning.”

Marape said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has indicated his plan to pay respect to late Agiru by accompanying the body back home.

“Hence next few weeks going to be sad but busy in Tari and I request our public servants, our people and police to support this public mourning period.”

Marape added that his wife and family and tribe will personally play host to the funeral programs in Tari in honor of this great leader who has personally shaped life to be the elected leader he is today.

"I wish his soul a blessed rest from the weary work of politics he was doing since 1997.”

Author: 
Freddy Mou