FijiFirst General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the alternative leadership that Sitiveni Rabuka is offering has been clearly shown on how the People’s Alliance proposed candidate, Liliana Warid’s comments on Indo Fijians being referred to as visitors, has been handled.
Sayed-Khaiyum says these people like People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party have formed partnerships not based on principles and values but simply for the raw political gain of office.
He says if these comments were made by a FijiFirst member, the Prime Minister would have fired that person.
Sayed-Khaiyum says unfortunately you have political parties at this point in time where you have a number of proposed candidates making contradictory, hypocritical and racist comments which have been tolerated.
He also says in all of this, the most deafening silence has been from the NFP.
We have approached the People’s Alliance for comments. Rabuka is in Sacramento and is yet to respond.
People’s Alliance Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka says as they operate in line with the rules of democracy, they naturally have internal disagreements.
While making a statement on the concerns raised regarding People’s Alliance proposed candidate, Liliana Warid’s comments on Indo Fijians being referred to as visitors and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s attack, Rabuka says internal differences are normal in a democratic organization, and Sayed-Khaiyum and Voreqe Bainimarama have no understanding or tolerance for differences.
He says what Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum say goes.
Rabuka says the People’s Alliance resolves disagreements while getting on with the task of working with the people.
He says their aim is to take Fiji into a new era of freedom, openness and prosperity.
Rabuka also says Sayed-Khaiyum is the last person to be lecturing anyone about leadership.
He says the failed, incompetent and unprincipled leadership of Sayed-Khaiyum and the Prime Minister has brought Fiji to a low point.
The People’s Alliance Leader says the nation is struggling, and he repeats what he said previously - Bainimarama has lost control of his government.
Rabuka says Sayed-Khaiyum is the most power-hungry person in Fiji’s modern history.
He says Sayed-Khaiyum succeeded long ago in gathering the Prime Minister’s authority to himself.
Rabuka says Bainimarama was too weak to stop this power trip and now just meekly follows Sayed-Khaiyum’s leadership of the nation.
He also says the two of them do not follow the inclusive principles of democracy, based on debate dialogue and eventual consensus.
The People’s Alliance Leader says their leadership model is an intolerant dictatorship ruling by fear, and Sayed-Khaiyum and Bainimarama should take a lesson from the Alliance in how to manage a political party.
Rabuka says under his leadership and with the loyal support of many able officials and supporters, it has taken them only six months to create a nation-wide movement.
He says it is based on equality and multiracialism.
He also says consider now the hypocrisy surrounding the Sayed-Khaiyum - Bainimarama government’s policy on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Rabuka says they complain about the economic damage this is creating in the world economy and to the region but at the same time they offer aid and comfort to Russian dictator Putin by broadcasting daily pro-Russian propaganda on FBC TV.
He also says the Prime Minister was unable to stop Sayed-Khaiyum’s relentless campaign to financially cripple the University of The South Pacific, the most successful example of Pacific Islands’ co-operation.
He says the USP provides higher education for thousands of young Fijians and many students from the region but this does not deter Sayed-Khaiyum.
Rabuka says he wants to have his own way, come what may.
He also says his seriously flawed ministerial leadership in economic and financial matters has driven Fiji into a deep hole of debt, and the burden of repayment will fall on the long-suffering people.
We have Rabuka to confirm whether the issue regarding Warid's post has been discussed with her and what is the final outcome on it.
We have also asked what is the party's stand on Indo Fijians being called visitors.
National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says they have always condemned the use of the word visitors to describe non indigenous Fijians in the past and will continue to condemn that whether it is from People’s Alliance or any other party.
While responding to Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s comments that NFP has remained silent on the statement released by Liliana Warid of People’s Alliance, Prasad says it is none of Sayed-Khaiyum’s business to talk about how the NFP responds to these kind of issues and concerns because they have fought for equal citizenry in Fiji for the last 60 years.
Prasad says it is a pathetic attempt by Sayed-Khaiyum to put the NFP in bad light.
He also confirms he had a discussion with People’s Alliance Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka on the issue.
Prasad says NFP is committed to a multi-racial, dynamic Fiji in its partnership with the People’s Alliance and under their Government, people will be free to express their views, even those with which the Government disagrees.
Prasad has also raised concerns on Sayed-Khaiyum calling People’s Alliance “Paapi”.
Part of Warid’s post on World Indigenous Day had said that the i-Taukei are being left behind is a statement one does not see every day. She said certainly not from an indigenous Fijian living in country, lest he or she is publicly shamed and branded a racist but the reality paints a factual picture. She had said that hypothetically, imagine visitors who have travelled some distance, and you welcome them into your home. She said they are not going back anytime soon, they are hard workers, you learn a lot from each other, share food, and become friends however, there are still distinctive differences between you and your friends such as physical makeup, religious beliefs, culture, and traditions.
She had gone on to say that over time, you find that by no fault of theirs, life has become extremely hard for you, but your friends appear to be thriving while you continue to struggle.
Warid said this is a picture of where we are today in Fiji as we are made to believe that we are living in a country that creates opportunities for everyone to thrive, but the reality reveals a different story.
The People’s Alliance has put up an official post of it’s Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka on it’s facebook page that they stand for the rights and progress for all Fijians.
Rabuka says they stand for all, and the party is bound by its Constitution to seek a united and prosperous nation.
He says it is time now for Fijians to reach across the barriers that have separated them; to join hands and make a new, complete and happy Fiji.
Rabuka says this is their mission and purpose.
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