TEAM WARI JAMES VELE 2022

 

Wari Vele and his #1 supporter and wife Kila Wari Vele after his installation as Paramount Chief at Taikone in NCD. 

'MI WARI LO YU'

It was probably the best jingle lure of the NCD by-election in 2006.

A businessman, Wari James Vele cleverly used his name WARI to empathize and endear voters to his cause in the 2006 by-election for City Hall.

Mi Wari Lo Yu (I worry about you) tickled the fancy of many grassroots in the city and the catchy appeal worked propelling WJV to become governor of NCD.

Although ruling for less than 9 months, Wari Vele actually holds the distinction of being the first NCD Governor after NCD was recognised as a province with a City Commission by the then government. 

Today, as Team Wari James Vele prepares for another tip at City Hall in Port Moresby, MI WARI LO YU has taken on a whole new meaning in Vele's NGE 2022 political return bid.

On Easter Monday, down at Taikone in Port Moresby South electorate, Wari was elevated to Paramount Chief of his Hula Tribe by his people.

The people of Vabukori, Taikone, Tainaladara, Koki, Fisherman Island also wrote Vele a letter asking that he accept their nomination to run for NCD again.

WARI JAMES VELE giving his first press conference at Taikone in NCD.

Likening NCD to a traditional Lakatoi voyager, the people urged that the NCDC lakatoi needs a new, experienced and Papuan captain.

Paramount Chief Vele, who is descended from hereditary chieftaincy of Hula, boldly accepted the challenge.

Speaking at his first press conference, Team Wari Vele 2022 remained calm and composed and was mindful of early campaign.

He outlined a people oriented approach to 2022 adding: "This is not campaign time yet.

"But I thank my people of Hula for this important title they have given me, as Paramount Chief,  and the challenge for me is to show the leadership that comes with this expectation. 

"I am prepared, Team Wari Vele is prepared, I am not asking you to vote me, just making my intentions known that I have accepted your nomination and the challenge that comes with it."

Vele is remembered as a charismatic Papuan son who rose to prominence as a business leader, and at the height of his transport , trucking and freight and carthage company, he also owned a radio station and even a football team named Wari Vele Raiders.

In the 2012 run off incumbent Powes Parkop scored 28,684 of the popular vote to Vele's 19,382.

In the elimination, Parkop won by 7957 votes with 43,897 to Vele's 35,940.

In 2017, after a public reconciliation with Parkop at Jack Pidik Park, Vele ran unsuccessfully for the Rigo Open seat in Central Province. 

But in 2022, Team Wari Vele is back. And this time, Mi Wari Lo Yu 2 is the bigger and better and bolder network.