Nine of 10 Morobe MPs support O’Neill’s leadership: Saonu

By PISAI GUMAR
NINE of the 10 MPs of Morobe, including Governor Ginson Saonu, are supporting Prime Minister Peter O’Neill leadership to fulfil the government’s development aspirations.
“We are not shaken by current lobbying of MPs to support this so-called vote of no-confidence motion,” Saonu said. The 10th, Huon Gulf MP Ross Seymour, is in the Opposition as a member of the National Alliance Party.
“Regardless of Seymour being in Opposition due to national politics, we all remain united and work amicably at home in Morobe.”
The eight MPs in Pangu are leader Sam Basil, Saonu, Kobby Bomario (Tewae-Siassi), John Rosso (Lae), Renbo Paita (Finschhafen), Kennedy Wenge (Nawaeb), Koni Iguan (Markham) and Thomas Pelika (Menyamya).
The other is Kabwum MP Patrick Basa, a member of O’Neill’s Peoples National Congress Party.
Saonu said the Morobe MPs were united. “Regardless of the issue over the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the Wafi-Golpu mining project on Dec 11 that (forced) the Morobe provincial assembly to be vocal against Pangu Party leader and Bulolo MP Sam Basil and the government, we still are united.”
Saonu said the Tutumang’s argument was about the recognition and respect for protocols between the national and provincial governments to find an amicable solution on equal and fair participation and benefit sharing for all stakeholders.