Fiji Day celebrations take place all over the nation
Both SODELPA and the National Federation Party had taken to social media to justify their absence ahead of the events. SODELPA president Ro Filipe Tuisawau had earlier posted on social media that it made no sense for him to be celebrating Fiji Day.
Officials of Opposition parties were absent at the Fiji Day parade at Albert Park in Suva yesterday and the official reception hosted by President Major-Genera (ret’d) Jioji Konrote at the Government House last night.
Both SODELPA and the National Federation Party had taken to social media to try to justify their absence ahead of the events.
It is understood that Opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka attended a fundraising event at Davuilevu Theological College yesterday which was probably why he did not attend the Fiji Day parade. He could not be reached to comment. Meanwhile, SODELPA president Ro Filipe Tuisawau had earlier posted on social media that it made no sense for him to be celebrating Fiji Day.
“Why should I celebrate?” Ro Filipe questioned via a Facebook post on Wednesday.
He pointed to “current political legal structures still in place, including the 2013 Constitution”.
He posted pictures of the invitation he had received from the President and with it made several allegations against the Government. National Federation Party Leader Biman Prasad said they chose specifically not to participate in the Fiji Day celebrations and had therefore sent an apology in advance.
In a media release, NFP said it was unfortunate that consensus, goodwill, dialogue and bipartisanship were missing from the national political landscape.
“We believe it is time to re-dedicate ourselves to One Nation, One Destiny just as we did 49 years ago,” the report said.