Leaders call on Kikala to withdraw petition

By ELIAS LARI
FIVE local level government presidents in the Porgera-Laiagam electorate, Enga, are calling on former MP Philip Kikala to withdraw his court petition challenging the win by Nixon Mangape.
They said the petition would not help find good leaders.
Instead, it would stop basic government services from reaching the people.
The LLG presidents are Deputy Governor and Porgera LLG president John Pawe, Pawa Akipe from Paiala-Hewa LLG, Peter Iki from Maip-Mulitaka LLG, Lagaip LLG president Joseph Yapane and Apetao Pakeo, Pilikambi LLG president.“The court petition will not do any good.
“Some of us have been councillors and presidents for more than 20 years.
“Mangape has started his term on a very good footing and that is what we want to see from our leaders,” they said in a statement in Porgera yesterday.
They said it was the people who had spoken through the ballot box.
Mangape polled more than 35,000 votes to beat Kikala with about 30,400 votes.
“The majority of our people have spoken. There is no point in arguing in the court of disputed returns.”
The presidents said Mangape should be given his five years to serve the people.
They said in the past, LLG presidents, councillors, village court officials, village leaders, youth and women groups and churches had a hard time working with their national representatives.
“Basically, our joint district planning and budget priority committee was non-existent.
“Mangape entered office and the first thing he did was call a JDB&BPC meeting. We see a leader who is getting everybody involved in the running of the electorate.”
They said under Mangape’s reign, they hoped to see the Yango Health Centre, West Enga Secondary School and Lagaip Corporative Society completed and become operational.
“We, the village and district leaders, and our people are not interested in court battles. We want services,” the president said.