A man with unique skills

IT is two years since the passing of the country’s founding father, the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
Papua New Guinea woke up on the morning of Feb 26, 2021 to the news of the passing of Sir Michael.
Sir Michael led PNG to independence in 1975 and was one of the country’s longest-serving politicians, with a career that spanned five decades.
He served from 1975 to 1980; from 1982 to 1985; and from 2002 to 2011.
He was a pivotal politician in the coming of independence.
His political career spanned from 1968 until his retirement in 2017.
He has been the longest-serving prime minister (17 years).
Besides that, he was minister of foreign affairs, leader of the opposition and East Sepik governor.
During his political career, he was a member of the House of Assembly and after independence in 1975 the National parliament for the East Sepik Provincial – later open – seat.
He was the first chief minister at the end of colonial rule.
Thereafter he became the first Prime Minister after independence from 1975 to 1980.
He returned to the office of Prime Minister from 1982 to 1985, and his longest stint in the position was from 2002 to 2011.
He had a colourful political career.
He had the wisdom of Sana, his father and held onto his father’s wisdom and advice in his political journey and that stood out after his passing.
From the highlands to the coast, out the islands and on mountain tops, the nation mourned for the man everyone calls the ‘Father of the Nation’.
Sir Michael was one of a kind, unique not only to our nation but to the world as well.
He was a man of the people. A traditional leader with unique skills which united PNG.
His leadership quality were simplicity and truth defined.
His examples were real life experiences; his points of reference were Papua New Guinean in origin. He led by the example of his own life.
He listened and took positive and fair action.
In the tradition of Sana, Somare believes a man must invite his enemies to sit down and eat with them before going to fight, and as chief minister he constantly seeks guidance from his philosophy.
And that has made Sir Michael unique in his style of leadership.
Sir Michael has since been referred to him as a great leader, friend to all and enemy to none.
He was the gel that held PNG together since 1975.
A piece taken out from Sana resonates his style of leadership.
From his father Sana – ‘every clan has its own special magic, and ours is the magic of peace.
When people come to fight us, we call them to eat first.
We sit down together. We walk, we eat. Then we say to them: All right, if you want to fight take your spears and stand over there.
We also will take our weapons, and we will stand on this side.”
But we believe that after eating, their minds will be changed.
They will not want to fight us anymore.’
Sir Michael had an incredible humility, so much sincerity and huge ability to forgive and with that he was able to unite a country of 800 languages and the many different tribes.
We echo sentiments shared by his daughter Dulciana Somare-Brash that with his departing to a spiritual life, his memory remains in his courage to not bring conflict amongst our people and not to bring conflict to other people.
He led a group of likeminded patriotic Papua New Guineans and brought our nation to self-governance and independence without war and bloodshed.
His footsteps and legacy can never be filled.