NFP and Opposition Group of 9 to support PM’s nomination for Ratu Naiqama to be President, SODELPA to confirm tomorrow morning

As Parliament sits at 11am tomorrow to elect the country’s new President, the National Federation Party and Opposition Group of 9 confirm they stand firm in supporting the nomination of current Speaker of Parliament Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu as the new President while SODELPA says they will confirm tomorrow morning.

When asked by fijivillage News, NFP Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Biman Prasad says they have had a good discussion with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka about the nomination and both parties have agreed to the nomination of Ratu Naiqama.

Sources from the Opposition Group of 9 confirm they have decided to support Rabuka’s nomination.

SODELPA General Secretary, Viliame Takayawa confirms they had a meeting yesterday, and they are speaking to their constituencies now before confirming tomorrow on whether they will support Rabuka’s nomination of Ratu Naiqama to be the next President.

The Opposition Group of 16 led by Opposition Leader, Inia Seruiratu had earlier said that they will not support the Prime Minister’s nomination, and will make their nominee know in due course.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed to fijivillage News that President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere decided to decline Rabuka's nomination of him to serve a second term of three years as President after he saw an internal audit and investigation report.

We had asked Rabuka on whether he had met Ratu Wiliame in Auckland earlier this month and advised him that he was withdrawing Ratu Wiliame's nomination, and for him to formally withdraw.

fijivillage News has gathered that Rabuka met with Ratu Wiliame for about 10 minutes in a meeting room at a hotel in Auckland.

We also asked Rabuka how did Ratu Naiqama's name come in as a nomination for President.

While responding to our questions, Rabuka said he informed Ratu Wiliame Katonivere that an Internal Audit and an Internal Investigation Report was reported to him by the Board Chairperson of three Government Companies Ratu Wiliame had served on.

Rabuka says these were then subjected to forensic reexamination and to the Attorney General for advice on whether to prosecute or not.

He says it was then that Ratu Wiliame felt he should decline the Prime Minister's nomination of him.

Rabuka says after that, he called Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, who has served Fiji well in his various careers as well as in his role as the paramount chief of Cakaudrove, considering his position in the conventional National Order of Precedence, if he would accept Rabuka's nomination.

We have asked Rabuka what is the next step regarding the internal audit and internal investigation report of Ratu Wiliame. He is yet to respond.