Will Grand Chief Sir Ipatas topple Marape at VONC?

By Lucas Neah

Will Grand Chief Sir Ipatas topple Marape at 10:00am on 15th April 2025? PNGs political culture is a bit different to what we see in Australia,

New Zealand and others. In PNG a new Prime Minister can be elected against all odds, a land of the unexpected.

Late Sir Julius Chan showed that never say die attitude, in the first VONC attempt in March 2024, he made his interest known to be the oppositions alternate PM nominee. His old age and related ailments did not stop him from expressing his interest, but the situation did not add up to give him the nomination. What triggered Sir J interests even on his ailing, ripe old age to be PM? It could have been for altruistic reasons other than selfish reasons given his ripe old age.

If the late Sir Julius Chan was nominated as the alternate Prime Minister in the first VONC attempt he could have won. If he did, by now we will have a new Prime Minister after his passing earlier this year. No one leader saw Sir J to be wise enough when he was rising his hands. Self is the eye cataract that blurrs one owns future. Late Sir Julius Chan could have been used as their strike weapon to bring down Marape. I don't know what went on, in the minds of the party leaders both in Opposition and in Govt. Sir, J was an frail old man to be the PM, one might be thinking but remember it's the coalition and individual MPs who form Gov't runs it with the executive Gov't at the helm.  Let us humbly learn from our past mistake and move on. Who else can the current leaders support to be the next PM now? If you look closely enough, you'll notice the disparities among the political parties and even within the members. All of them want to be the next PM even their party is small in number.

Sir, Peter Ipatas took a well measured and calculated risk when he accepted the oppositions offer by accepting the nomination as the alternate Prime Minister. He vacated his place of comfort and convenience, did he act out of personal interest or out of empathy for the nation, definitely not out of whimsical reasons? 

At the current setting and alignment of the parties and individual MPs in the current Marape-Roso Gov't fragmentations deems impossible. 

Dr Sir Puka Temo a gray haired old man who is reaching his redundancy age with the wisdom lens nominated a man of his age, Sir Ipatas as the alternate Prime Minister. 

You remove them of their attires leave them only to their shorts what will you notice from them? From the head down to their feet it'll show sign of aging and grey hair all-over. What could it show and mean? Age and wisdom.

It's either Marape or Ipatas next week Tuesday, it remains solely in the hands of the MPs. This is the second VONC attempt by the opposition after the first one failed having Rainbow Paita as the alternate PM. The thing is most of or every of the parliamentary members want to become the Prime Minister after Marape. When is Marape stepping aside? Who will or can give him a good challenge to unseat him in the PMs seat? For now and even after 2027 and beyond I don't see anyone of our current leaders toppling him. 

A much worse version of the 2022 GE will come into play in 2027 GE. Marape will be more prepared in 2027 GE in terms of resources and manpower than in 2022. He is set to go past O'Neil's eight years span as Prime Minister and beyond. What will continue to happen in our country and our future and our children's by then? I can not ink on the many crisis this Gov't has put us through, the worse is taking its shape, we are sitting on a time bomb, if Marape continues on, it will explode, disaster for PNG. 

The old man, Sir Ipatas walked off, of the current regime to accept the nomination by the opposition led by a brilliant, like minded crop of leaders. 

Sir, Ipatas has made his stand Cristal clear, "GIVE ME TWO YEARS ONLY" let's fix the country. 

We can clearly see there are some good Prime Minister material leaders who are party leaders and individuals, both in the Opposition and the Government now, your chance of becoming Prime Minister will be there in the floor of parliament on Tuesdays VONC. Sir Ipatas says give me only two years, does that not mean your party can form the next Gov't and be the next Prime Minister in 2027? Its a YES

Late Sir Julius made his intention known and he was overlooked, this time around Sir Ipatas name is nominated by Sir Temo. These leaders will not be here for a long time, when the time is ripe use them, it could be seen as a right move to support him, in the near future when you look back while being the Prime Minister, you will say with a bright smile, good I voted for Sir Ipatas to be the PM.  

Will Ipatas topple Marape on Tuesday next week? I don't see any reason why he should not. We need to make awareness to the leaders who are in government of why they should leave the current Marape-Roso to join opposition. The Prime Minister has no solution to the economic crisis, the social disorders and the prevalent law and order crisis. 

If the leaders think right, put the interest of the country before theirs, Sir Ipatas will be Prime Minister next week.

Let us use the various social media platforms to educate the leaders in the next few days that they can make consciously informed decision on Tuesday. 

Am writing this piece after viewing the leader 'Sir Peter Ipatas is a different leader in the last 5 - 7 yrs than he was, in the past 20yrs in politics.

It will be a regret of a life time for most leaders if Sir Ipatas is not voted to be the next Prime Minister on the 8th of April 2025.