How Rabuka Came from the Political Wilderness to Become Party Leader
Stop forming factions, SODELPA leader tells
Sitiveni Rabuka is correct when he says he was approached to become SODELPA party leader in 2016. He was part of a plan by some members of the Vanua Levu bloc aided by some MPs in Viti Levu to strengthen the party’s preparation for the 2018 General Election. When he learned they were coming to see him, he debated whether he should accept the request or turn it down. He knew there were people in SODELPA who did not like him because of his role in the 1987 military coups. He was only going to accept the request if he was assured the party genuinely needed him. He still vividly remembered how he was blocked from joining SODELPA in the 2014 General Election as party leader. One of his strong critics was Ro Teimumu Kepa his predecessor, who subsequently took on the role.
During his days as leader of the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei he was asked to step down by a group. Some remnants of that group went on to form the Vanua Levu-based Christian Alliance Matanitu Vanua (CAMV). Elements are still active in SODELPA as a lobby group.
So one can understand what was going on in Mr Rabuka’s mind pending the arrival of the delegation which apparently had the blessing of the Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.
The plan was for Mr Rabuka to be nominated as party leader to fill the vacancy left by Ro Teimumu. She relinquished the role after the party constitution was amended to force her hand.
The amendment was that a party leader that loses an election would automatically lose his or her role. Ro Teimumu lost the 2014 election so she had to go. She fell out of favour after the 2014 election when she appointed National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and Opposition spokesperson on the economny.
It is now thought that some of the so-called “reformers” who engineered the sweeping changes in the constitution were also behind the exposure of the controversial Gaunavinaka Report before the constitutional change. The report was highly critical of Ro Teimumu’s leadership as Opposition Leader and the administration of the Opposition Office.
With Ro Teimumu no longer the party leader, Mr Rabuka was seen as the best replacement. He was assured by the delegation that delivered the request in the traditional manner that he would get the necessary support to allay his reservations.
He went on to get the nod for party leader closely beating Mr Gavoka. But he failed to get the party across the line and win in 2018.
It was one major reason he failed to retain the party leader role and lost to Mr Gavoka this time.