Author:
Fr. Robert Plews Laka, SVD (A mockery in God's name?)
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Date Posted: Sun, May 04 2008, 02:55:45am
There seems to be a lot of contradictory scenarios presented in the article by HARLYNE JOKU. Three major scenes came to my sight: someone vying for the country’s top post; a pastor’s allegiance and the party president’s political gimmick.
While Mr. Ipatas’ intention may be a valid reason as a citizen and a politician to be the prime minister, many credentials do not seem to justify the nobility of his intention and in fact most of these contradict the office of a genuine leader. We all know the consequence of his leadership in the province for the past 10 years. Any blind Engans will not agree with me, but the irony of these is that, despite us knowing the results, Free Education has been the major argument in his campaign that gained status and kept the momentum of the race and I believe, this had over shadowed the character of a true leader. We all know WHO and WHAT Peter Ipatas had become in terms of his administrative role that lacked a clear vision of the province. Without elaborating the moral character of his leadership, my greatest sigh is the lack of vision his administration created for the province. True enough, Free Education had given relief for some parents and students, but the irony of that relief is that, no jobs were created for the multitude who have benefited from that scheme. (Ten years was enough to equip skilled people to engage in short term goals that would pave ways for long term achievement. I don’t know if Ipatas understands the term “sustainable development” from the development perspective given by UNDP and other development agencies) There are other indicators of development in the province, but I don’t label them as development per se, which lacks proper planning. With the absence of his vision for the province, what good can he envision for the country, should he become the next PM? Experience does speak louder, but experience without vision is an experience without a mission. With these, I question the acclaimed qualities of Ipatas by the so called religious circles affiliated to him and the comments by the political party president.
The good bishop’s prophesy of God’s will that such a leader with a deficiency in moral character to be a PM is a blasphemy and mockery to the office he holds as a bishop. While he can argue as a pastor saying, God does not condemn a sinner, but the sin, which I am fully aware of it, however pledging his allegiance to a person who lives double standard of life, makes me question the integrity of the office the bishop holds. Religious leaders in biblical history were too quick to condemn any immoral conducts of the leaders during their time. While acclaiming it as God’s will, others reacted to dubious characters of their political leaders and today in our modern times, still remains the same, however, I don’t understand the judgment the bishop has on our leader which prompted him to make such public comments to label it as if it was God’s will. True enough, God has plans for every human being and every politician but I also believe that God’s plan is not man’s plan and claiming it to be God’s plan.
These had been the mistakes some Engans have made and will continue to do so to manipulate the system that hinders socio-economic development as well as spiritual development. It is also true that some political cronies’ patronized partiality and call it God’s will. I only hope one day, we will go beyond the barriers created through nepotism and moral deficiency in Enga. One day, I believe that the will of God be done, that there will emerges a good leader who is genuine and sincere; a leader bestowed with integrity and transparency, a leader armed with clear vision and a mission to perform that would unite Enga and PNG in a way that do away the political gimmicks of the now. I believe, God wills a leader of sound and good moral character that would emerge to lead the multitude of the simple people of Enga to a prosperous Enga, given the status quo of the province. I believe, it will be but not Ipatas as Piso prophesied.
Fr. Robert Plews Laka, SVD
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