by Bridgette Komatep – EM TV, Port Moresby
Ijivitari MP David Arore has been declared the new governor of Northern Province.
The vote of no confidence in sitting Governor Gary Juffa took place in Popondetta today.
A faction of LLG Council Presidents, led by Mr Arore, said they were tired of Governor Juffa’s style of leadership and voted him out.
However, Governor Juffa maintained that he is still the governor of Northern Province. He said the vote of no confidence was illegal, and he will contest it in court.
But the people rejoiced at the change, the township of Popondetta was packed to capacity to witness the no-confidence motion led by the different local level government (LLG) presidents in the province against the Oro regional member elect, Mr Gary Juffa on the governorship.
Mr Juffa wrote a letter for the Provincial Assembly meeting to be deferred because the Provincial Assembly Clerk been very ill and could not administer today’s scheduled meeting for the Oro Provincial Assembly. However, the assembly members braved the heat of the sun to ensure that the scheduled meeting for today commenced with the first agenda to be the no-confidence motion against Mr Juffa.
With the absence of the governor, five LLG presidents for the Ijivitari electorate and two LLG presidents for Sohe, including the two open electorate members agreed and moved the vote of no-confidence against Mr Juffa and elected Mr David Arore, the member for Ijivitari, to be the new governor for Oro province.
In all, nine out of 15 assembly members voted.
The governor elect, Mr Arore, said democracy has played its part because the people of Oro province had enough of media propaganda and wanted to see tangible development.
“This is a result of democracy because we want to see change and changes that will be witnessed physically and in a more coordinated manner,” said Arore.
He said people of Oro has had enough of one-man rule, guns threatening leaders in the Oro Provincial Assembly and threats to business houses for selfish reasons.
Arore thanked the Oro Provincial Assembly for having the confidence in him and promised to uphold the responsibilities of the governor of a province.
He also thanked the public for the calmness and support to see changes happening in the government.
The LLG presidents who voted for the new governor are Kira LLG President, Cape Nelson LLG President, Popondetta Urabn LLG Mayor, Tamata LLG President, Orobay LLG President, Afore LLG President, Safia LLG President; and the two open members, Mr David Arore and Mrs Delilah Gore.
Meanwhile, according to reliable sources, Mr Juffa will file a legal proceeding against the Provincial Assembly meeting that was held today.
The legal counsel for Mr Arore agreed that the meeting was legal, saying that a change of meeting or an adjournment can only be made in such a meeting, which the governor failed to do.
