Ratu Epenisa is being used by those flanking him for their own personal agenda – Tabuya

SODELPA Whip, Lynda Tabuya has said this afternoon that SODELPA President, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau and Party Leader, Viliame Gavoka should resign and Deputy Leader, Filimoni Vosarogo should step up and become the leader of the party.

While responding to Ratu Epenisa, Tabuya says with due respect to the SODELPA President, he is losing the support of the vanua in the party. Tabuya says he is a novice in politics and is being used by those flanking him for their own personal agenda.

She says she believes Ratu Epenisa’s heart is in the right place but he is being allegedly heavily influenced by his advisors, Aseri and Sainiana Radrodro.

Tabuya claims that Aseri and Sainiana Radrodcro write Ratu Epenisa’s correspondence for him and use his electronic signature.

The SODELPA Whip says this couple interfere too much in the work of the General Secretary, to the point where Aseri Radrodro allegedly wrote a scathing letter that led to the forced resignation of Emele Duituturaga and treasurer Ratu Ilisoni Vuidreketi, who she says are two good, knowledgeable, experienced professionals who had much to offer to the party.

Tabuya says the SODELPA President should be neutral, but since he took up his position, there are over 70 grievances before him to sort out.

She says this is unprecedented.

Tabuya says she has much respect for Ratu Epenisa as a traditional leader and she calls for his resignation as he has not been able to unite the party for almost a year now, and he has not been able to resolve the many grievances before him, but has acted on ill advice designed to drive out voters rather than unite them.

She says she is very disappointed that the Deputy Party Leader, Filimoni Vosarogo has been excluded from major decision making, he has not been invited to the management board meetings and he has been replaced as chair of the manifesto committee who met this week to map out the direction of the party.

Tabuya says under the President’s leadership, the party leader has failed to deliver a plan in the last five months.

She calls for Vosarogo to take up the leadership as she says they need a young, dynamic, intelligent leader to capture the 60 percent voting population.

Meanwhile, Sainiana Radrodro says she is shocked and utterly dismayed that a lawyer, Lynda Tabuya has made a claim that is obviously meant to discredit her and Aseri Radrodro.

Sainiana categorically denies that she wrote Ratu Epenisa Cakobau’s statement.

She also asks Tabuya why on earth would she have access to the electronic signature of the President of SODELPA.

Sainiana also says she is not part of the party's secretariat.

She says her personal opinion as someone who has been part of the SODELPA family like the thousands of others over the years is that Lynda Tabuya needs to direct her issues to the party internally and think of the voters of SODELPA whom she is hurting by her various statements that now defy logic and truth.

She says she like Lynda Tabuya is a lawyer too by profession and she is now considering what she needs to do to address Tabuya's lies on her publicly, that brings harm to her personal and professional reputation.

When approached by Fijivillage, Aseri Radrodro said he will not comment.