Ex-speaker Nape passes away

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
FORMER Speaker Jeffrey Nape died on Friday from medical complications at the Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby.
PIH marketing deputy manager Anan Giagad confirmed that Nape died at about 7.30am.
“I cannot talk about his illness due to medical ethics,” he told The National.
Nape, 52, from Koge village, Sinasina, Chimbu, is survived by his three wives and nine children.
He served as Sinasina-Yonggamugl MP from 2002-12 and was a member of the then National Alliance-led government.
He was also speaker during that period and was instrumental in ensuring that the Government led by former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare remained in office.
Nape was later involved in the controversial impasse on Aug, 2, 2011 that led to the election of People’s National Congress leader Peter O’Neill as Prime Minister while Sir Michael was on extended sick leave in Singapore.
Nape lost his seat in the 2012 general elections.
One of his sons, Yaldiye Nape, said after his father lost, he concentrated in developing his property at Morata in Port Moresby, while ensuring that his children continued their education.
“He was planning to return to contest the Sinasina-Yonggamugl seat in the 2017 national election but passed away last Friday.”