Rabuka Bad: Tupou
Sitiveni Rabuka’s return to the political arena portrays a bad image for Fiji, says HOPE President and Party Leader Tupou Draunidalo.
Speaking to FBC News yesterday, the former President of National Federation Party also revealed that she resigned from NFP because the NFP leadership decided to work with SODELPA, which is now led by Mr Rabuka.
Not mincing her words Ms Draunidalo said she could not stand working with the SODELPA leader, who she holds responsible for the demise of Fiji after the 1987 coups. “But there’s something about him and we all know what he started in this country and it has lost this country billions of dollars and the young people are the ones who are suffering the most.
“They will say, ‘wow, this man can start a coup culture, he can destroy NBF and the whole economy and the people of Fiji will keep voting for him and if he can do it I can do it too’ and this is not a good thing to encourage,” she said.
On NFP, Ms Draunidalo said: “Their decision was to work with all parties and that includes SODELPA and no, I don’t want to sit with SODELPA anymore. They disrespected their own voters and how can I talk about stability and the rule of law when I sit with those who don’t participate in it and I will be seen in a very bad light.” She said leaving NFP was the best thing she did, but she was only left with two options.
“Politicians usually have two options, they can cause trouble in their party or they walk away and I’m not a trouble maker,” said Ms Draunidalo, who is a lawyer by profession. The majority have made their decision and I will go and form my own.”
Ms Draunidalo has also stated unequivocally that despite various parties working together prior to the general election her new party, HOPE, would never work with parties involved with SODELPA and its leader, Mr Rabuka. Meanwhile, NFP leader Biman Prasad responded to Ms Draunidalo’s version of the events leading to her departure from Fiji’s oldest political party.
Yesterday, he told the Fiji Sun:
“Ms Draunidalo knows what the truth is and I sincerely hope that for her sake she is not lying.”