To avoid any doubt, I wish to place on record my full support for the Turaga Bale na Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and his Presidency; and confirm I am not a contender for the position of President.

Those are the words of the Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa.

She says in recent weeks, she has become aware that her name has been circulated as a contender for the position of President when the current President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere’s term ends.

Ro Teimumu says for the record, she is not a contender for the position of President, and if her name has been proposed, then it has been done without her knowledge or consent.

The former SODELPA Leader says she is particularly disappointed that SODELPA General Secretary Viliame Takayawa has made statements regarding this without the courtesy of seeking her view or even discussing the matter with her before issuing any statement.

She says to what she recalls, the position was initially offered by the People’s Alliance Party during the negotiation week at the first Management Board Meeting in December 2022 following the general elections, however, there have been no further discussions since.

Ro Teimumu says the position of President of Fiji is an important position as it symbolises our national unity and character and it should therefore be treated with the respect that such a position deserves.

She says it concerns her as Roko Tui Dreketi, that her name and title is being promoted as a challenger to the current President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, and such unfounded statements could easily create a perception that the current relationship between the Tui Macuata and her or between the two provinces or Vanua o Caumatalevu and Burebasaga is strained, which is not the case.

Ro Teimumu says in fact, she believes the Turaga Bale na Tui Macuata has been doing very well since his appointment and she thought he handled the transfer of power skillfully, following the change of Government in 2022; which ensured that the will of the people and our electoral laws were upheld.

SODELPA General Secretary, Viliame Takayawa confirms that Ro Teimumu Kepa has resigned from SODELPA on Friday afternoon after the management board meeting.

Takayawa confirms that Ro Teimumu had also apologized that she would not be attending the management board meeting.

He says her resignation has nullified the proposal given to the party specifically for her in terms of the next President.

Takayawa says they will not pursue the proposal of Presidency as proposed by Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica during their presentation to the party.

In her resignation letter to SODELPA, Ro Teimumu says in regard to the current laws of the country, she is compelled to resign from the SODELPA Management Board, effective immediately, to facilitate her membership of the Great Council of Chiefs.

She says she wishes all the best of the SODELPA Party and humbly requests that they abide by the Party Constitution and the 2013 Constitution, bearing in mind that all their utterances and correspondences, reflects upon the reputation of the Party which they are committed to upholding in the highest regard and not be brought into disrepute as is becoming a common occurrence.

Ro Teimumu says by this same correspondence, she is advising the Supervisor of Elections of her resignation from the SODELPA Management Board.

Stay with fijivillage for developments.