If FijiFirst party general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum does not like coups, why is he working with another coup leader?
This was the riposte from The People’s Alliance (PA) party leader Sitiveni Rabuka as he and National Federation Party (NFP) leader Professor Biman Prasad hit back at Mr Sayed-Khaiyum for calling their partnership “a coalition of convenience”.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also labelled their coalition an “unbalanced relationship” and touched on Mr Rabuka’s role in the 1987 coup.
In response, Prof Prasad said the party had condemned every coup and political upheaval in the country and the 1987 coup was no exception.
“On the contrary, Sitiveni Rabuka executed the military coups in May and September 1987. Mr Rabuka knows NFP’s position on coups,” Prof Prasad said.
“The NFP has never supported, joined nor benefited directly or indirectly from any coup.
“However, 10 years later in 1997, Mr Rabuka worked closely with the then leader of NFP and the Opposition Jai Ram Reddy to give Fiji the internationally acclaimed 1997 Constitution.
“This was the Constitution that Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum started undermining and (then abrogated) abrogating, together with trashing of the Court of Appeal judgment on April 10, 2009.”
Prof Prasad said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum did not understand transparency, accountability, ethical and good governance and working for the people at all times instead of the other way around.
“So, naturally, he tries to shamelessly undermine the post-elections (The) People’s Alliance-NFP coalition government that will be based on a firm foundation of principles contained in the memorandum of understanding signed by the leaders of both parties on April 8, 2022.
“The MOU has been well-publicised in an act of transparency so that the people of Fiji know well in advance their new government will always work for them and show care and compassion at all times, not only in an election year like FijiFirst.”
Mr Rabuka asked the FijiFirst general secretary why then he was working with the 2006 coup maker.
“If he is saying that, as general secretary of that party, why is he working with another coup leader?” Mr Rabuka said.
