Rabuka, Tabuya and NFP: Eyes on 2022

Former Social Democratic Liberal Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka has been holding talks with other political parties as he works to register his proposed party.

Mr Rabuka said a concerted effort was needed to be a force to reckon with in 2022.

He said he has had talks with a few other politicians just like what was done pre-election in 2018.

“It is not really a secret because I have been working with them when I was with SODELPA,” he said.

“They are Charan Jeath Singh, who has no affiliation at the moment, and Biman Prasad who is an old friend anyway whether political or apolitical.”

He also confirmed talks with Suspended Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube.

When contacted yesterday, Mr Charan Jeath Singh said he was still a member of the National Federation Party.

“However, down the line we are working on avenues of coalition of parties. I am not representing NFP in the talks but that is what I am working on for all parties to co-operate,” he said.

According to Mr Rabuka, they were not able to get Fiji Labour Party’s Mahendra Chaudhary and Tupou Draunidalo of the suspended HOPE on board.

Lynda Tabuya

Mr Rabuka said that the easiest person Lynda Tabuya will be able to work with in Parliament and in any political party is him.

This he said were his views and not Ms Tabuya’s.

Mr Rabuka was responding to comments made by Ms Tabuya on this newspaper praising his leadership while criticising the current SODELPA leadership. Ms Tabuya had said: “A very large part of SODELPA’s success has been having Rabuka as leader. He is amenable, empowering and has stood by me in those hard times. He is definitely one of those male advocates who empower women and who walks the talk to enable women to share power and share responsibility.” Mr Rabuka said the door was open to anyone including those unhappy with SODELPA’s current leadership to join his proposed political party.

“For Ms Tabuya we had collectively worked together anyway on the number that they have in parliament now,” he said.

“Their votes plus mine as party leader gave us the 21 seats in Parliament. It’s something to build on, it will be a pity if the majority of them all leave SODELPA.” He also clarified that there has not been any word on Ms Tabuya’s interest in his political party and he would not want to jeopardize her position as a senior member of the political party and also a member of the current caucus of the party.

When queried on Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and Adi Litia Qionibaravi, he said they had always been close colleagues and they would be an asset to any party they wish to join.