Ezekiel Anisi facts for kids

Ezekiel Anisi (born September 1, 1988 – died May 24, 2017) was a politician from Papua New Guinea. He served as a member of the country's main law-making body, the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. He represented the Ambunti-Dreikikir Open area in East Sepik Province.

Ezekiel Anisi was first a Member of Parliament (MP) from August to October 2012. He then became an MP again in December 2013 after a special election, and he served until he passed away. He was known for being the youngest MP in Papua New Guinea at the time.

Early Life and School

Ezekiel Anisi was the son of Alex Anisi, who was a leader in the East Sepik region before him.

There are different stories about where Ezekiel went to school. His official records say he studied at Dreikikir Primary School and Dreikikir High School. However, some news reports mentioned other schools he attended, like Wewak Hill International School. Before becoming an MP, he said his job was "student."

Political Journey

Ezekiel Anisi was first chosen as an MP in the general election in July 2012. He ran for the People's Progress Party. He won against Tony Aimo, who was an MP and a former government minister.

After the election, Tony Aimo went to court. He said that Ezekiel Anisi was not old enough to be an MP, as the law required MPs to be at least 25 years old. He also claimed Ezekiel was not properly registered to vote. In October 2012, the court agreed with Tony Aimo. The court decided that Ezekiel Anisi's election was not valid, and Tony Aimo became the MP instead.

Ezekiel Anisi appealed this decision to a higher court, the Supreme Court. In June 2013, the Supreme Court said there should be a new election for the area.

In September 2013, his first political party, the People's Progress Party, removed him. They said he was trying to get money from other political groups. So, Ezekiel Anisi decided to join a different party, the People's National Congress. He ran in the special election in December and won again. He was sworn in as an MP for the second time on January 6, 2014.

In March 2014, Ezekiel Anisi had some disagreements with the local government in East Sepik. This was about choosing public workers and approving new projects. He also strongly denied claims that he had a police gun without permission.

In April, the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, visited Ezekiel's area to open a new road. Ezekiel Anisi said this road opening was a very important and special event. He felt it showed that joining the People's National Congress was the right choice. In January 2016, he helped get an ambulance for a health center in a faraway part of his area.

Passing Away

Ezekiel Anisi passed away on May 24, 2017. He was getting ready for the next general election, which was only a few weeks away. He was at a guesthouse in Port Moresby when he collapsed. A family member said he died while being taken to the hospital.

He was only 28 years old when he died suddenly. His death led to discussions about the health of politicians in Papua New Guinea. He was given a special state funeral, which is a public ceremony to honor important people. The funeral was held on June 8, 2017. His coffin was brought to the Parliament building before being taken back to Wewak for burial.