▶ TABUYA’S DAYS NUMBERED AS ROW ESCALATES WITH RATU EPENISA CALLING HER A LOOSE CANNON
The writing is on the wall. Lynda Tabuya’s days in SODELPA are numbered after her latest outburst in the media against the party.
The row has escalated with party president Ratu Epenisa Cakobau wading in. He accused Ms Tabuya of bringing disrepute and negativity to SODELPA and described her as a loose cannon.
The party has called in the heavy artillery to lend support to new general secretary Lenaitasi Duru who has admirably stood his ground on good governance against Ms Tabuya.
Her latest outburst could be her swansong, having taken on more than she could chew.
The party has now enough evidence to put her through the disciplinary process, find her guilty of working against party interests and expelling her.
There is a growing feeling in the rank and file that Ms Tabuya may have overstepped the mark because her public defiance is damaging party support and solidarity. She could have discussed her concerns in the proper forums within the party administrative machinery instead of going public.
She could be asked to do the honourable thing and leave the party or face possible expulsion.
She has alluded to the possibility of working with Sitiveni Rabuka in his proposed new party.
But it is understood that those who support Mr Rabuka are apprehensive about Ms Tabuya joining them because she could do the same as what she is now doing in SODELPA.
While she is riding a popularity wave, they are worried about the wider implications of her recent public outbursts.
Some of them, in SODELPA’s parliamentary caucus, had moved a motion to relieve her of her Opposition Whip role. But Mr Rabuka, then the Opposition leader blocked it and threw away the motion.
Tabuya compliments Rabuka’s leadership
It is no surprise that Ms Tabuya compliments Mr Rabuka’s leadership. It was Mr Rabuka, as party leader, who brokered a deal that allowed Ms Tabuya to join SODELPA from the People’s Democratic Party where she was party leader. The deal was questioned in SODELPA, but Mr Rabuka said then that he was acting on the mandate given to him by the party.
Some were not happy with the way she came in and got a ticket to contest the 2018 election. To her credit, she worked hard and polled the party’s second highest votes of 8795 after Mr Rabuka on 77,040. She was the envy of successful and failed candidates.
They still carry that perception which has now emboldened them to oppose her after her latest outbursts.
The party needs to decide her fate. If she stays, she will continue to be a thorn and question the party’s decisions. If she goes, she is expected to take with her a section of her grassroot support.
Time is running out for the party if it wants to be a credible challenge against FijiFirst in the election.
Its attention cannot be divided between trying to resolve these internal disputes or focus on the election. It needs to take decisive action. Either way it will come at a cost. It must face the reality, deal with it, and move forward.
Ratu Epenisa’s statement
But the tone of Ratu Epenisa’s statement yesterday indicates that if Ms Tabuya does not bow out on her own, the party would take action.
He said “It is unfortunate that the party has to be embroiled in debating with one of its own publicly. However, since there are misconceptions now raised by Honourable Lynda Tabuya that cuts into the core of the existence of the Party, it is imperative to correct the misconceptions she has raised.”
Ratu Epenisa acknowledged Ms Tabuya’s media comments on various issues.
“The Hon. Member has brought disrepute and negativity to the Party by resorting to use the media to express her opinions instead of using internal party mechanisms,” he said.
“Primarily, Hon. Tabuya has misinformed and misrepresented to the public that the party has no plans to be able to maintain and attract voters in preparation for the General Elections in 2022. “There is a lot of work being done in the background to address policy needs. This is a matter not meant for public consumption, just yet. On the issue of Hon. Tabuya’s general utterances to various media outlets, a recent resolution of the Party Management Board directed all Board Members and Parliamentarians to sign an Oath of Allegiance which the Hon. Member had signed.
“However, her continuous public outbursts, questions her commitment to serve the party and uphold its constitution.”
“We urge the Honourable Member to please refrain from making public pronouncements against the party. I am just a phone call away including the Honourable Party Leader for discussion. While she claims she is committed to SODELPA, her actions indicate she is intending to leave. Whichever way she goes is her choice, but if she chooses to remain with SODELLPA, then refrain from campaigning against the party that gave her the threshold she needed to get into Parliament. “Her misguided attempts at trying to discredit the party executives is only showing up her inadequacies as a self-promoted representative for Kadavu. “Instead, she should be proactive and make positive contributions as Hon. Rasova has been doing on the island, and not continue to ramble on like a loose cannon.”