Rabuka wants another shot at top job

THE People’s Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka says he wants another shot at the top job because he has unfinished business.

And he believes the party will secure 22 seats.

Acknowledging the fact that some Fijians of Indian descent voters may be hesitant to vote for him, he said he hoped to appeal to voters through a working relationship with the NFP that “continue with the spirit of the formulation and promulgation of the 1997 Constitution”.

“That was a very noble display and demonstration of multiracial cooperation and understanding when we came up with that, and a lot of it must be credited to (late) Mr Jai Ram Reddy and the senior members of National Federation Party,” he said.

Speaking on The Lens @ 177, the former prime minister said he wanted to continue to right the wrongs of the past after being misunderstood for the past 25 years.

The show’s host, The Fiji Times west bureau chief Anish Chand, had asked Mr Rabuka why he thought he deserved the highest seat in political office, and whether he had repented “for his past sins”.

“In retrospect, I look at the wisdom of going into that understanding with the National Federation Party - I think we mutually support each other, we give them encouragement and support, they give us encouragement and support,” he said.

“People who are not prepared to come all the way to The People’s Alliance can support the National Federation Party.

“In that way, it’s like a symbiotic relationship and it’s good for both.”

Mr Rabuka also said he’s a “mellowed” and “wiser” leader, ready to serve.

“I am more determined and I have great-grandchildren.

“I want them to live in a great Fiji and I want to do all I can while I’m still alive to make sure that the Fiji of their adulthood is a great Fiji to be in.

“In my case, you get what you see. We’re not pulling up any facade, (or) anything like that. They (voters) know of my past, they have seen the worst of me, they have not seen the best of me yet.”