We Sacrificed Our People to Remove Peter O'Neill

I write this with much respect for a good friend and political leader whom I have looked upon and believed in to be the saviour for modern day politics in Papua New Guinea.

I have known Sam Basil as a very hardworking and down to earth politician who walked the lenght and breadth of Bulolo and its neighbouring districts.

Mr Basil was a no nonsense leader, he was widely adored and respected by his people. He was a champion and was PNG's favorite son fighting corruption from the Opposition for more than 9 years.

I got convictions and inspirations from Mr Basil to declare 'friends to all and enemy to one corrupted Peter O'Neill' up till now.

Basil has sacrificed Bulolo and his people from the Opposition for 9years to fight against PMPO.

Regardless of where he stands, Basil was wholeheartedly returned to parliament by a massive 20,000 votes margin to his next rival. He will make it again in 2022, but his party members will be facing a stiff challenge.

In the last two months, my once trusted corruption fighter and political hero has put on a new skin. He has been imseperable from the person he campaigned against during the 2017 National General Elections.

He was shifted from the Communications ministry to Finance prior to the May 7th parliament session and now being moved to National Planning in light of a possible Vote of No Confidence (VONC) against PM O'Neill.

Basil when he was the Communications minister decided for the registration of SIM cards to be carried out leading up the 2018 APEC Summit for security reasons. The SIM registration process failed miserably and the deadline was extended until now they are still registering.

Fake people are still operating on social media, scams and cybercrimes are still ongoing and people still have access to multipla SIM cards.

Theres is no control of Facebook and other social media sites. Fake news have taken over social media platforms by storm.

So basically, Mr Basil and his team's effort to end cyberbullying and cybercrime and to control the use of social media by urging users to register their SIM cards did not work out.

In light of the VONC, Basil was appointed as Finance Minister by O'Neill in a bid to keep Basil and his former PANGU Pati team. He only held that ministry for two weeks.

Now Basil is being moved to National Planning and Monitoring Ministry. Why cant the government give him a steady ministry to take charge of? Isn't PMPO not trusting him?

I haven't seen another political leader and government minister being widely criticised apart from the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Sam Basil has truly withstand all criticisms and has grown thick skin through and through over the last two years.

Today, I know Basil is reading this post and he himself knows the struggle we've been through from the Opposition side to oust Peter O'Neill.

Sam, you know your conscience is right. You cannot continue to sit next to O'Neill and get criticised. You have to stand up and keep your word.

#ForABetterPNG