Micah wants PM post

Commentary  : PNG Files 

Micah and the PPP were happy to cross the floor and join the opposition, but only if he was named leader of the Opposition. While he crossed the floor under the expectation that he would have the opportunity to challenge for the seat of Prime Minister, Poyle is yet to step down.

While many are praising the former ministers gall in giving up his high ranking ministerial seat, others are heavily questioning whether his motives are in the interest of PNG or just in the interest of Ben Micah’s bank account.

it is important to understand how Micah plays the political game. Since he first entered the PNG political sphere in the nineties his career has, unfortunately, become a series of back to back cash grabs funded by the PNG taxpayer.

Under his leadership in the nineties the electorate of Kaveing turned from one of prosperous growth to Micah’s own piggy bank. The Kaveing residents never saw K1.5 million of federal funds promised to the district. However, by the end of his term Micah had bought a new house for himself in Ela Beach with the incriminating price tag of K1.5 million.

As chairman of the IPBC Micah again squandered public funds on himself and those close to him. Not lasting even a year in this position he was fired by Sir Mekere Morauta, this time for a K2.5million renovation to his humble office.

Although disgraced after his dismissal Ben Micah had grown accustomed to the life of a high roller at this point, and he had some very expensive political and business friends to keep happy. He spent the years between political terms driving his printing business into the ground and was declared bankrupt in 1999. No doubt his business acumen is not something to be envied, and so he returned to easy life of living on public money.

After bribing his way into parliament during the chaos of the 2012 elections Micah was fiercely loyal to the O’Neill government, speaking praises of the Prime Minister and the direction PNG was heading.

Always the opportunist however Micah contradicted his previous statements the second it was beneficial to do so. Capitalizing on the instability caused by the UPNG protests Micah and the PPP conspired to undermine both the government and the opposition.

Just days after publicly coming out in support of the government Micah again betrayed any morals or political principles he claimed to possess. Micah and the PPP were happy to cross the floor and join the opposition, but only if he was named leader of the Opposition.

It seems however that the brighter minds within the government and opposition have called his bluff. While he crossed the floor under the expectation that he would have the opportunity to challenge for the seat of Prime Minister, Poyle is yet to step down.

The next week will be an interesting one for Micah and the PPP as they find themselves sitting amongst those they once opposed. It seems that for all the conspiring, planning and backstabbing Micah has engaged in over the years it will finally be himself who is the victim of his dishonesty.

A man who stands against the might of the establishment can take pride in the fact that he forgoes money and power to do what he thinks is right. For Ben Micah the opposite is true, whoever pays the most is right.

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