Treatment of Ratu Epenisa in resignation letter saga contradicts SODELPA’s policy on respecting chiefs
The treatment of Bau Chief Ratu Epenisa Cakobau in the resignation letter saga defies common decency.
It’s even more serious when the victim is not only SODELPA’s president but a son of a former high chief of Fiji in the context of the party’s strong advocacy of the chiefly institution.
Ratu Epenisa is a heir apparent to the Vunivalu title, paramount chief of Tailevu Province and the Kubuna Confederacy.
His father, the late Ratu Sir George
Cakobau, a former Governor General, was the last Vunivalu.
The traditional seat of power has been vacant since his death on November 25, 1989.
Ratu Sir George was a direct descendant of the late Ratu Seru Cakobau who ceded Fiji to Queen Victoria of England on October 10, 1874.
That makes Ratu Epenisa a direct descendant also.
He currently resides at Mataiwelagi, the chiefly home of the Vunivalu.
A dispute stopped his installation more than three years ago, that has been cleared now.
Advocacy of the chiefly system
Kubuna is one of three traditional confederacies and their 14 provinces that are part and parcel of the political dynamics of SODELPA that anchor their advocacy of the chiefly system.
The other two are Burebasaga and Tovata.
You rip it out and you take away the heart and soul of the party.
That explains their opposition to the abolition of the Great Council of Chiefs even though the institution was started by the British colonialists to keep a lid on iTaukei dissension.
After Independence in 1970 the GCC became a political hotbed for politicians trying to entrench their power and influence on national politics.
With this background it was shocking to see how Ratu Epenisa was treated.
Given that in the political arena everyone is equal, Ratu Epenisa was not given a fair go.
Whoever was responsible in drafting his letter of resignation and talked him into signing the letter had taken advantage of his humble nature and vulnerable position.
No vaccination
The no vaccination ground was used despite the fact that he was waiting for medical clearance from his GP (General Practitioner or private doctor) whether it was okay to be vaccinated because he has an underlying medical condition.
Ratu Epenisa signed the letter because he thought it was the right thing to do at the time after the party had encouraged members to to get the jab.
But he changed his mind after speaking to party leader Viliame Gavoka and general secretary Lenaitasi Duru.
It was obvious that it was part of an orchestrated campaign by the conservative right wing faction aligned to Sitiveni Rabuka’s The People’s Alliance to destabilise the party.
It is understood that several members of the party’s governing body, the Management Board, have not been vaccinated.
Do they have to be asked to step down until they get vaccinated?
In Ratu Epenisa’s case it was the way it was done, that’s an issue.
And no one is admitting responsibility for it.
It’s a bad look on some elements in the party who profess to be prochiefs but behave like hypocrites.