FijiFirst party leader Voreqe Bainimarama has descended to the lowest of personal attacks, says National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad.
His comments come in the wake of claims made by Mr Bainimarama during a campaign rally in Nakurukuru, Lami.
Mr Bainimarama said Prof Prasad would agree to bring back the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) simply because “he’s holding Peoples Alliance (PA) party leader Sitiveni Rabuka’s pants up”.
At a joint PA-NFP rally in Lautoka on Friday, he said they had nothing better to talk about during their campaigns.
“They talk about Sitiveni Rabuka, they talk about Biman Prasad and last night (Thursday) I was told that Bainimarama said something like ‘I am holding Mr Rabuka’s pants’,” he said.
“This man has descended into the lowest and gutter level of personal attacks on Mr Rabuka and me.
“But that’s good my friends because the people of this country know me and they know Mr Rabuka.
“We can stand on our own.”
Mr Rabuka added that The People’s Alliance and NFP’s stand was a total rejection of the narrow, mean-spirited, anti-democratic attitudes of Mr Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
“The very thought of sharing power in coalition is anathema to them,” he said.
“This and other reasons is why they are yesterday’s men. They have left Fiji in a mess which tarnishes many facets of national life.”
He said this formula for governance does not work.
“It has led to confusion and inefficiency and crisis on top of crisis affecting the economy, social life, the legislature and the rule of law.
“These crises have an impact right across the community.”
Prof Prasad also reiterated that he was the leader of a party which, for 59 years, held the values of democracy and freedom and human rights in a very steadfast and uncompromising manner.
He said the comments the FFP leader showed his desperation and that “he really hasn’t got any idea of what happened during his government for the last 16 years because the de facto prime minister has been running the country”.
(*Additional reporting by MERI RADINIBARAVI)
