Poponawa welcomes probe

By JUNIOR UKAHA
TAMBUL-Nebilyer MP Benjamin Poponawa says his accounts are open and he welcomes investigations into the use of his electoral funds.
He made the comment after a local businessman, Peter Agura, claimed in the media on Monday that he had misapplied Rehabilitation of Education Services Infrastructure (RESI) funds and was interfering with teaching appointments at Tambul High School.
“I have nothing to hide as all the projects and district monies were accounted for and the record will speak for itself,” he said.
He said all the RESI funds and other projects done in the electorate had gone through the district treasury and followed the proper processes and procedures and proper records kept.
Poponawa said all the statements made by Agura were “baseless, unfounded” and only aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
“The communities in the electorate are behind me and view this report as absurd,” he said.
Poponawa, who is a former senior employee of the Auditor General’s Office, said he believed in the hard work of public servants and was not in any way interfering with staff appointments at Tambul High School.
“These (appointments) are left to the people who do the job best. My responsibility is to provide services that are lacking in the district,” he said.
He said Tambul Nebilyer was a small electorate and business people and leaders knew each other well.
He said Peter Agura was a pen name used to discredit him.
“I invite Agura to come to the electorate and see for himself what I have done for the past four years,” he said.
Dickson Poke, a community leader in Tambul, expressed concern over the article, saying it was a “political statement aimed at tarnishing the MP’s reputation and hard work”.
He said Poponawa was the first MP in the province to be rewarded with the Transport and Civil Aviation portfolio because of his leadership, experience and maturity.