O’Neill still has support

THOUGH fallen from grace two years ago, the former prime minister and Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill still commands great respect and admiration throughout Papua New Guinea.
This was witnessed last weekend in Map village outside Mendi, Southern Highlands.
At a time when the quality of the country’s leadership is becoming a critical concern as people start asking was the change of government in 2019 necessary – given the incumbent regime’s apparent inadequacies – O’Neill offers a way out in pointing to his track record of service delivery and achievement.
Leaders who command respect have strong values and high standards.
O’Neill lives by his own standards and never seeks approval or validation.
He knows how to listen and put things into perspective.
He focuses on practical things that matters on people’s lives and doing the right thing rather than trying to please everyone.
In Map, O’Neill offered the olive branch of peace and reconciliation to an overwhelming magnitude of Southern Highlanders and people from the neighbouring Hela, Enga and Western Highlands while reaffirming a possible comeback to national politics.
What happened in Map is a prelude to similar events that will be happening leading up to the elections coming up in eight months’ time.
Everywhere, people want a People’s National Congress party’s endorsement and O’Neill is set to have a very busy schedule in next year’s elections.

David Lepi