By Mortimer Yangharry
The Lagaip-Pogera Open Electorate was formerly the largest district in Enga Province that was recently split.
The electorate was split when Tomait Kapili who was also the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations was the MP under the then Marape- Basil government as his United Resource Party was a major political party in the coalition government.
Fast forward to the 2022 National General Elections and the newly created districts went their separate ways in choosing their leaders.
The majority of the people of the Paiela-Pogera Open Electorate mandated late Hon.Maso Karipe to be their pioneer MP while the Lagaip Open Electorate had its maiden election declared failed by the Electoral Commission due to widespread violence.
Come the 2023 Lagaip Open Supplementary Election and it was a ‘tug of war’ contest between former MP Tomait Kapili and Pangu Pati patriot Hon.Aimos Akem that saw the United Resource Party strongman leading in the primary counts but overwhelmingly overtaken in the final eliminations leading to eventual victory filling the vacuum in the ruling Pangu Pati numerical loss created by the death of late Hon.Maso Karipe.
In general, the late Hon.Maso Karipe was a beacon of hope for the gold rich electorate who was determined to see the reopening of the second largest open pit gold mine in the world until his ultimate demise.
By coincidence, the State Funeral of the late leader took place on the same day the young lieutenant of the sister district was led into the National Parliament for his first time while his fellow fallen comrade spent his last day solemnly graced by the farewell of his fellow colleagues who stood tall in sorrow to bid their final goodbyes.
Among the esteemed parliamentarians was Hon.Aimos Akem who by fate was allocated his representative seat along the aisle that ensured his final respect was paid in FULL as the casket was gracefully with utmost respected escorted on the Floor of Parliament for awhile never to happen again.
May the charismatic soul of the people’s leader rest easy for awhile.The Paiela-Pogera People shall NEVER forget their PIONEER MP until the end of days!
