Late Oseah Philemon has been described as a true national who stood for Papua New Guineans.
"He thought of the majority of the people and stood tall by his words." This was how former Morobe governor, Luther Wenge, described the former Post-Courier chief editor.
He paid tribute during the funeral at the St Paul Lutheran Church in Lae yesterday.
Wenge said Oseah was a no-nonsense man who didn't affiliate with any political parties or mingle with politicians. He was purely neutral.
Morobe has truly lost a leader who fought and stood for all Papua New Guineans and developed the country through his fair and just writing, said the former governor.
"We Morobeans have lost a leader. He didn't think about his province but he stood tall for national interests and we will surely miss him."
Other notable Morobeans who attended the funeral service yesterday include Sir Nagora Bogan, retired assistant commissioner of police, Giossi Labi, and close to 200 people, who paid their last respects to the late Philemon, commonly known as OP.
Post-Courier editor, Todagia Kelola, and general manager Frank Genaia, accompanied the body from Port Moresby to Lae.
The body will be taken to his Pile village (Labu) today before burial tomorrow.