Toropo’s military career cut short

The date Feb 18, 2022, will go down in the final chapter of Imbonggu’s proudest son and commander of Papua New Guinea Defence Force Major General Gilbert Toropo.
At a solemn ceremony at the military headquarters, Toropo gracefully relinquished the sword to the incoming commander symbolising his recession to retirement.
The long and distinguished career of Toropo exemplified the unrelenting endurance, patience and persistence of Imbonggu.
You carried our flag right to the top and made us proud.
The soft spoken Toropo is an exotic figure with exceptional talent and character.
He is a classic military looking figure with steady piercing dark eyes and strong jaw of a quintessential soldier as if cut out in a comic script. Toropo is a career officer with trainings at some of the world’s best military and civilian academies.
A ranger of the highest standard, Toropo was trained by the best and became the best.
His expertise and knowledge in the art of war was highly sought for in some of world’s trouble spots, including the Balkans and the Persian Gulf.
At the age 64, with a few months more to the public service retirement age, 65, Toropo’s illustrious career was cut short by lazy politicians and paper pushers who lack intelligence and wit for a thing called political expediency.
Waigani, today, is graced by Imbonggu’s very own sons in its power echelon and advisory, but none could save and rescue the decorated soldier from the firing squad.
Probably they took a nap.
Whatever it is, fate cut short the vigilance, determination and self-sacrifice of my soldier and hero.
I salute you Toropo.
A son, a father, a husband and a warrior.
Carry on your next journey with the loyal and devoted manner in which you carried out your duties.
A soldier is always a soldier.

David Lepi