Rabuka labels Narube change of tune as hypocritical

Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube has changed his tune. While campaigning at Ed’s Court in Raiwaqa, Mr Narube revealed he was willing to form a coalition with The People’s Alliance to form a government.

The former Reserve Bank of Fiji governor, in the lead up to the 2014 and 2018 elections, strongly condemned coups and unlawful removal of any democratically elected government.

Mr Narube stated on numerous occasions that he and his party would never support any act that removed democratically elected government unlawfully.

He is the second political party leader to change his tune, the first one being National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad.

Mr Narube said he was not a hypocrite. He said the Unity Fiji party was a clean party and one that had never taken part in any coups in Fiji.

“We had clearly said that we will not form a coalition with FijiFirst to enable the formation of a government. I came to politics because I wanted change,” he said.

“But, I can form a coalition government with a party that is not in government and that includes The People’s Alliance.

“It is not hypocrisy, it is realistic. The people will speak during the elections. Just to change leadership and be practical with the national interest we would form a coalition with People’s Alliance,” he said.

“If we needed a national unity again, we needed to heal the past.”

He said the party would establish a peace and reconciliation commission whereby the public would be able to make submissions on how to heal the wounds from the past.

In response, Mr Rabuka said it was hypocritical for Mr Narube to ask him to join his party after criticising him for the 1987 Military Coup.