Governor Wenge refutes media statement on him supporting Paita to move to Opposition

Morobe Governor Luther Wenge is refuting a media statement circulated to media houses and also published on The National newspaper that he supports the move made by Finschafen MP Rainbo Paita and the other government members to the opposition.

He was in China when the move was done. He came out to make it clear to the citizens of Papua New Guinea.

Mr Wenge said, “As far as I know, I have not made any statements about my support to Finschafen MP Mr Rainbo Paita to form a team to gain a new government of Papua New Guinea. Nor did I make any statement to support Prime Minister James Marape in the upcoming vote of no confidence in the National Parliament.

"I have not released any statement. It must be clear to everyone that I have not made any statement about the matters raised on social media platforms, WhatsApp, Facebook, online news page.”

The Morobe Governor claims the identity of the person is still unknown and has assured that the matter will be investigated.

“I want to make it clear to every citizen of Papua New Guinea that whoever made that statement, I will get the police to investigate and find whoever released that statement and have him or her arrested and prosecuted under the criminal code of PNG”.

He says it is an unauthorized statement and amounts to a criminal offense, "I will have them arrested and charged.

"Secondly, as a leader, I want to make it clear that any leader, [a leader is a member of Parliament or any constitutional office holder] who made that statement, is subject to the organic law on leadership code".

Mr. Wenge will be referring the matter to the Ombudsman Commission for further investigation.

He has given his assurance to issue a statement in a couple of days.