Resignation shows O’Neill not power-hungry: Marape

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
THE resignation of Peter O’Neill as prime minister shows that he is not a power-hungry man, says Tari-Pori James Marape.
“I used to think that you are power-hungry. But you are not,” he told O’Neill in Parliament after the latter announced his resignation. Marape said O’Neill’s action showed that he had heeded “the cries of the people”.
“You (have beaten) me and many of us by outclassing many of us for the views some of us who were with you had about you, that you are power-hungry,” Marape said.
“Today you showed that you still have the heart and ears to listen to the cries of the people.
“We had seven prime ministers to date. And you are the seventh. You have served from 2012 for seven years. And today you are making this call to step down.”
Marape said it was easy to make comments and pass judgment but hard to admit mistakes.
“It takes real men to come out in public and accept that those sorts of mistakes can be made. I respect you Ialibu-Pangia MP.
“As your former Minister from 2012 to today, we did make mistakes.”