Governor-general explained his stand

PAPUA New Guinea created history when parliament suspended Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio for refusing to swear in Peter O’Neill as prime minister last week.
The governor-general was summoned last Wednesday morning by parliament to swear in O’Neill at 2pm, but he refused saying he only recognised Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as the legitimate prime minister. 
As acting governor-general, Speaker Jeffery Nape swore in O’Neill as the prime minister.
Francis Marus, the deputy speaker is now the acting speaker.
The latest events have placed PNG in another constitutional crisis.
Sir Michael Somare’s 20-man cabinet was also sworn in last Wednesday morning at the Go­vernment House.
They then convened an NEC meeting at Morauta Haus, where the prime minister’s office is based, including the National Executive Council.
PNG now has two prime ministers, two deputy prime ministers, two governor-generals, more than 50 ministers, two police commissioners and two finance secretaries.
Meanwhile, the man caught in the middleof the controversy, Sir Michael Ogio, explained why he recognised the Somare camp and not O’Neill’s.
He said, as governor-general, he was duty-bound to uphold the Constitution.
He said based on advice from government lawyers, he recognised the Grand Chief in accordance with the orders of the Supreme Court.

Paul Barker
Port Moresby