Are SODELPA officials prepared to enforce Rules against rebels as open war breaks out?

For months Lenaitasi Duru has restrained himself from hitting back at the Lynda Tabuya team in the SODELPA row.

Yesterday the under fire general secretary came out with no holds barred and all guns blazing.

The heated exchange between him and Ms Tabuya signifies an all out war between the two factions has broken out into the open.

This is a fight to the death that will determine SODELPA’s future and who will be at the helm.

For Mr Duru it’s a fight for survival and protection of his reputation and the SODELPA brand.

For Ms Tabuya it’s a battle to maintain her credibility in her quest to become party leader.

The longer this conflict drags on the harder it is for Ms Tabuya to keep her leadership dream alive.

The knives are out to cut short her dream. Vocal SODELPA MP Mosese Bulitavu, who had earlier called on Mr Duru and party leader Viliame Gavoka to step down has come out openly to attack Ms Tabuya even though they share similar concerns about the Party leader.

Mr Bulitavu represents a group in SODELPA, some of whom have defected to Sitiveni Rabuka’s The People’s Alliance, which is hostile against Ms Tabuya.

When Mr Rabuka was Opposition leader, the anti-Tabuya lobby tried to move a motion in caucus to strip her of the Whip role. But he blocked it.

Ms Tabuya is aware of these elements who are still trying to discredit her, but she has worked hard to win new friends to her camp. The most prominent of her new allies are MP Mikaele Leawere and his wife who is a leader of the women’s wing. The couple used to be in the opposite camp of the moderates. Other acquisitions include Watisoni Nata, president of the Suva Constituency Council and Suva lawyer Tanya Waqanika who were with the moderates.

Ms Tabuya is at a critical stage of her push for leadership, and she has to be sensitive and careful not to lose supporters.

Yes, she is right that Mr Duru has gone personal because it was a counter to all the accusations levelled at him and Mr Gavoka.

Mr Duru has highlighted what is perceived to be her weaknesses. The claim that she is not wanted by Mr Rabuka’s party may be spread by the anti-Lynda mob in it. The mob’s wish is to stop Ms Tabuya joining The People’s Alliance because it believes she would become a liability for the new party. A new narrative is being started by staunch SODELPA members who claim that the people who stirred up the agitation and later open rebellion were not the founders or original members of SODELPA. They came from other parties They include Mr Rabuka (Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni iTaukei) and Ms Tabuya (People’s Democratic Party).

The first quarter of next year will see the final outcome of this protracted feud. Mr Duru has drawn the line in the sand. Basically, what he is saying is that it’s either them or us. If they use the party machinery and its constitution, they could expel the rebels.

The question remains: Are they prepared to do it?”