Former FijiFirst leadership was concentrated with founding members, limiting succession planning - Usamate

Opposition MP and former FijiFirst Minister Jone Usamate has revealed that although members of the party were given stints to act as Prime Minister, but under their party’s constitution, power was concentrated in the hands of the two founding members – Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

He highlighted this while responding to questions on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan about succession planning in FijiFirst, following its eventual deregistration.

He was asked whether there had been any moves to change the party’s succession planning, as concerns had been raised that Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was wielding too much power and, at times, appeared out of touch with the majority of voters.

Usamate says the longevity of leadership planning may have been limited because power remained with the founding members and that may have limited the party.

Usamate says that despite FijiFirst being deregistered, parliament continues to function.

He says debates in Parliament are still as vigorous as ever and the issues that need to be brought up, the questions that are asked of government are still there.

The MP adds they, the members that are in the opposition, will continue and those that intend to join new parties in the future will continue to contest elections and move this forward.