Small opposition a cause for grave concern

With only seven MPs left following a rash of defections to the government ranks, Belden Namah should be a very worried Opposition Leader.

But the firebrand Member for Vanimo-Green remains unperturbed by it all and even boasted to journalists at a media conference last Thursday that he is prepared to be a “one-man opposition”.

The “never-say-die” spirit has always been a characteristic of Namah – from his early days as a Defence Force soldier and a key fi­gure in the Sandline affair in the 1990s to his first-term election to Parliament in 2007 and subsequent elevation to deputy prime minis­ter under controversial circumstances in August 2011.

 One of the principal players in that torrid affair was Namah himself and as opposition leader.
His re-election in the ge­neral election last June was another personal achievement for Namah. But his split from the coalition with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill – less than a year after their infamous parliamentary coup to remove the Somare regime – and the subsequent formation of a new O’Neill-led government last July was an anti-climax, which must continue to haunt the opposition leader.

The defections of MPs – two of them crossing the floor within days last week – should be making life unbearable in the opposition benches. But not so for Namah who is still upbeat about his chances of ma­king a comeback, even with seven members on his side.

The PNG Party leader still insists he is not power hungry, a factor which cri­tics believe led to his downfall during the formation of go­vernment last year. Namah was adamant on this issue when he told reporters: “People must understand that it is not about my ego to become prime minister but it is about me exposing corruption.”

There is no love lost between Namah and O’Neill. What started as a political marriage made in heaven has now turned into a fierce feud.

When Namah tabled a letter purportedly written by O’Neill directing Finance Department to pay a law firm, O’Neill called Namah egotistical, in a hurry to become prime minister and promised to “do him in” in his own time.

While O’Neill is basking in the limelight of power and glory, Namah remains unforgiving about his former partner: “He must understand that I made him to become prime minister when he had five members and I had 38. I was responsible and now I will be the one to get him down although there are (only) seven of us. His days are numbered.”

As the Opposition’s advi­sers will agree, these words are easier said than done. In fact, it is almost impossible for Namah to reverse the current trend in the political numbers games unless a miracle happens, which is also unheard of.

Namah is well aware that our parliamentary democracy only allows for the party with the largest number to either form government on its own or with small parties in a coalition.

O’Neill clearly won the numbers game last July when his People’s National Congress Party formed go­vernment with smaller coalition partners and relegated his former deputy to the opposition benches. And to the prime minister’s credit, the government ranks have been swelling since, with or without his direction.

What is of concern is the government’s absolute majority. It is not healthy for the country and we hold the prime minister to his pledge not to abuse power and misuse the public purse because it is so much easier now he has the numbers to virtually change any law and indeed the constitution and apportion any amount of money for whatever the government caucus deems appropriate.

There is little Namah can do except make peace with O’Neill and take his few remaining members across to the government side. But being a fighter, Namah may not necessarily agree with the adage, “If you can’t fight the devil, join him”.

So while the opposition leader ponders his next move, the country will have to be content with O’Neill’s tight grip on government and trust that he will continue to deliver on his promises.

So far, so good, as O’Neill has proven in his short term in office that he is not only an articulate CEO (chief execu­tive officer) but also a political leader who is prepared to make tough decisions for the future well-being of our citizens.

OP/ED