Wingti wins governor’s seat

By YVONNE HAIP
NEWS of Paias Wingti’s victory as Western Highlands’ governor even before he was declared has rocked Mt Hagen city.
The highlands hub was buzzing with celebrating supporters who went crazy as hints that the three-term prime minister would win reached town.
But as the declaration was made, traffic came to a standstill as convoys of vehicles loaded with supporters singing and chanting “daddy boss” filled the streets.
At Kagamuga Airport, another bumper crowd was waiting for the new governor-elect who arrived from Port Moresby where he had been in camp with the Peter O’Neill-led faction.
Wingti was declared governor yesterday after polling 112,640 votes ahead of incumbent governor Tom Olga, who collected 89,195 after eliminations.
Wingti, also a former governor, had been defeated twice by a Catholic priest, the late Fr Robert Lak, and university graduate, Olga.
In neighbouring Enga, Peter Ipatas was re-elected governor after scoring 140,512 votes ahead of runner-up Sandy Talita on 77,064. The absolute majority was 139,706.
Western Highlanders are now looking forward to Wingti fulfilling his policies and delivering what he promised on the campaign trail.
They hope to see him prioritise a law on free education and enact it in parliament.
Parents believe the future of their children “is in safe hands” with Wingti as he had always told them.
Despite the heavy downpour, celebrations continued into the night as people placed their hopes on the former governor to bring about much needed services and continue from the work done by Olga.
Supporters in Jiwaka were the first to congratulate Wingti, saying they would not benefit from the reign of Wingti but were looking forward to a new beginning in their new province with governor-elect, Dr William Tongamp.
Wingti’s tribesmen in Moika village were no exception as they celebrated.