Yawari backs Agiru on LNG and stability

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

FORMER governor Hami Yawari is urging all Southern Highlands members of parliament to join his one-time bitter political rival Governor Anderson Agiru, The National reports.

“All Southern Highlands MPs joining Agiru and his United Resources Party are not making a mistake,” he said in a media conference in Port Moresby yesterday.

“We have to stabilise the government until the 2012 elections.

“As Southern Highlands leaders, we should be working together with Agiru to support Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

“Let Sir Michael complete his term and, if he wants to retire or continue in politics, that is up to him and the people of East Sepik,” Yawari said.

He said that Southern Highlands was home to the biggest LNG project and he did not want politics to destabilise the project that would give huge benefits to the landowners, province and country.

Yawari explained that he did not hold any grudge against Agiru who unseated him in 2007, saying that Agiru would stand for Hela provincial in 2012 while he would contest the Southern Highlands provincial seat.

He said he approved his own Conservative Party and Kagua-Erave MP James Lagea joining United Resources Party.

“We need to stabilise government and ensure the gas project gets off the ground to put PNG on the world map.”

Yawari made this statement when thanking the prime minister for appointing Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape as minister assisting the prime minister on LNG and climate change matters.

He said some people with other motives had manipulated the National Gazette while the prime minister was in New York to create instability in government and the LNG project.

Meanwhile, Agiru said he was still a friend to Yawari as a Southern Highlander.

He said he was touched that a former rival had spoken highly of him and supported URP, the LNG project and the government’s tireless efforts for the benefit of the province and country.