Opposition Leader Voreqe Bainimarama issued a veiled threat to the People’s Alliance-National Federation Party-Social Democratic Liberal Party coalition government in a video statement made on the FijiFirst party Facebook page on Tuesday night.
In the video statement, Mr Bainimarama said Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s “three uneven legged stool government” was breaching a number of constitutional processes and the FFP was making “strategic changes” to ensure the PM was “stopped from further doing so”.
The Opposition Leader said the “strategic changes” included his nomination of FijiFirst general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC).
Mr Bainimarama said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s nomination, as a member of Parliament, meant he was subject to Section 63 (1)(b) of the Constitution which stated the seat of a MP becomes vacant if the Member, with the Member’s consent, becomes the holder of a public office.
“I deliberately nominated the former attorney-general to COC because he and I together will provide the best representation on the COC,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“We will highlight all the anomalies that have already commenced and defend the constitutional appointments and of course the Constitution. We must defend these values and must also take action.”
He said he would lead the charge inside Parliament and the former A-G would be leading the charge outside Parliament.
“So to ensure that we are constantly in touch with our supporters and all Fijians on a daily basis, I have tasked our general secretary to be our voice outside Parliament.
“He will be in our parliamentary office, he will give us advice and also issue statements on behalf of FijiFirst when Parliament is not sitting. He will also be meeting up with various citizens groups in Fiji, outside Fiji and with our development and bilateral partners as it has become abundantly clear that already in 10 days this three uneven legged stool (People’s Alliance-National Federation Party-Social Democratic Liberal Party) government is running the country in a haphazard manner.”
