Professor is Jiwaka governor

Main Stories, National
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The National, Thursday 02nd August, 2012

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
AN ASSOCIATE professor of Akita University in northern Japan is the governor-elect for the new Jiwaka province.
Dr William Tongamp was declared on Tuesday night at the Banz counting centre, Jiwaka.
Tongamp, who holds a doctorate in mine engineering and processing, for the last 10 years, has been the pride of Jiwaka for his academic achievements.
Tongamp, who ran as an independent candidate, made a slow start on the primary votes count but gradually gained momentum when the counting went into the elimination process, collecting second and third preference votes from other candidates eliminated to make his way up the leader board.
His election victory was welcomed by rival regional candidates.
Bossip Aipe told The National in Banz yesterday that he and other candidates were happy that Tongamp had won.
Aipe appealed to other candidates to give their undivided support to the governor-elect to develop the new province and not  challenge the election result in the Court of Disputed Returns.
He said that he accepted the defeat and would be working closely with Tongamp to develop the new province.
Tongamp told the people inside the counting centre witnessing him signing his writ that Jiwaka had to catch up with other provinces already way ahead.
Jiwaka had to adopt a new system where public servants would work from Monday to Saturday from 7am-5pm.
“Everyone must work and that’s the only way we can change the province.”
Tongamp invited other educated elites from Jiwaka to return to share ideas, knowledge and skills to get the province up and running.
He said that he would need support from public servants, church leaders, councillors, and business communities to contribute ideas.
For the Anglimp-South Waghi open seat, independent candidate Joe Koim Kuman was declared winner.
Jamie Maxtone-Graham, the former MP opted to contest the regional seat.
The other two successful candidates from Jiwaka were Maip Dop (Jimi) and Dr Fabian Pok (North Waghi), both from the United Resource Party.