SODELPA Leader, Viliame Gavoka says he is amazed that a group in the party is behind SODELPA MP, Mosese Bulitavu to remove him when many in the party do not want Bulitavu around.
However Bulitavu has today said that no person is bigger than the party and SODELPA President, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau’s decision to gloss over the serious governance issues shows that he is weak.
Speaking outside the management board meeting venue, Gavoka says his supporters want a united party and they are working on that.
Gavoka says Ratu Epenisa has made a wise decision after getting the advice from a constitutional lawyer and other senior members.
He also says their meeting as per Ratu Epenisa’s directive is focusing on preparations for the 2022 general elections.
However SODELPA MP, Mosese Bulitavu told fijivillage that his police complaint deals with the party’s governance issues amongst other matters, and these issues should be addressed.
Bulitavu says he knows that it is Gavoka who does not want him in the party.
He says he and majority of the management board members have signed a petition to deal with the serious matters and he says they do not have a party leadership that is listening.
Bulitavu says they have also written to the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem asking for the replacement of SODELPA’s General Secretary, Lenaitasi Duru.
He is also alleging that Duru’s salary is more than the amount approved by the party’s management board.
As the SODELPA management board meeting continues in Suva this hour, SODELPA President, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau has stated to those attending that all actions against the Leader, Viliame Gavoka and General Secretary, Lenaitasi Duru are to be ceased immediately as they all concentrate their efforts on the 2022 general elections.
Ratu Epenisa says the matters raised are now under Police investigation and no action will be taken while they await the outcome.
He says they need all hands on board at this juncture where their future is to be decided – either they will spend another four years warming the Opposition bench or sitting on the driving seat to take the nation into freedom and prosperity for all.
Ratu Epenisa also says with their 43 member management board, it is very easy for anyone to drive a wedge between the members and divide them into factions as they see today. He says this is abuse of the management board, which will stop, henceforth.
SODELPA MP Mosese Bulitavu had earlier filed a police complaint against Gavoka and Duru.
He has accused the two of perjury.
Bulitavu alleges that Gavoka had forged the management board resolutions which said that SODELPA gave him authority to take Bulitavu to court.
Bulitavu claims this meeting did not take place and the document was forged. Gavoka had filed a complaint in the Court of Disputed Returns to remove Bulitavu as an MP however the case was struck out by Chief Justice Kamal Kumar.
Last Friday, Duru had said that they received information that there was a meeting scheduled at Nausori Village called by the four-dissent group of the party’s Working Committee and a few board members to conduct an illegal Special Board Meeting.
Duru said the purpose of that meeting was to solely unconstitutionally oust him and Gavoka.
He said this meeting was arranged and financed by certain rogue members including sitting Members of the Parliament, two members of the Working Committee and two board members.
Duru said these members went to Nausori Village under the Vanua of Kubuna, in disguise that the Party President, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau had organized the meeting.
The SODELPA General Secretary says they do not want to harm the Vanua of Kubuna as the chiefly household of Nausori is closely connected to the Party President’s household and they felt obligated to expose this illegality before it creates harm to the Vanua and their loyal supporters.
He added they are also being informed that there is economic interest towards the push of this meeting from these members hence compromising the values and principles of the party in protecting the Vanua and their statehood.
Duru said they will surely get to the bottom of this “behind the scenes” players in the coming days who are instigating and sponsoring this rebellious attitude in the party.
Stay with us for more.
SODELPA President, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau is chairing today’s party management board meeting virtually as he does not have a COVID-19 vaccination card and cannot be allowed into the meeting venue.
This has been confirmed by SODELPA General Secretary, Lenaitasi Duru who also says that he cannot confirm on whether Ratu Epenisa is fully vaccinated.
Duru also says today is about looking forward for SODELPA, not about infighting and it is a new beginning for the party.
He confirms 21 of the 43 management board members are in attendance. Some are attending virtually.
Meanwhile he says the meeting organised by a dissident group in Nausori last week has been referred to the Registrar of Political Parties, and they are awaiting a decision on that.
Duru also says he cannot comment on the Police complaint regarding Bulitavu’s allegations against him and Party Leader, Viliame Gavoka, as that is under investigation.
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