A war of words has erupted between members of the Social Democratic Liberal Party with Opposition Whip Ro Filipe Tuisawau calling members of SODELPA “cowards and backstabbers” and SODELPA general secretary Lenataisi Duru and his group calling Ro Filipe “deluded”.
Mr Duru had earlier said SODELPA supporters were not as naive as Ro Filipe thought they were.
He said the supporters remained steadfast in support of the party principles, unlike Ro Filipe, who was already allowing people to campaign for him as The People’s Alliance party candidate while still being a member of SODELPA.
Mr Duru also said Ro Filipe must be “self-deluded” in thinking he was bigger than SODELPA.
In response, Ro Filipe said Mr Duru was now trying to justify the act of “treason” his associates in SODELPA committed on the iTaukei voters.
“The fact of the matter is polls now show it will be very difficult for SODELPA to regain the 21 seats just because of the hunger for power they split SODELPA and forgot the iTaukei voters,” he said.
“Some SODELPA MPs are praising FijiFirst in Parliament. He must explain this to the iTaukei.”
Ro Filipe claimed conspirators within the party associated with Mr Duru leaked caucus meeting papers to the Fiji Sun for all caucus meetings and reported him, Niko Nawaikula and Mitieli Bulanauca to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.
He labelled their actions “an act of cowards and backstabbers”.
“Duru and his associates betrayed the iTaukei by taking SODELPA to court and splitting the party – it will never recover.
“They are ready to do anything to ensure they stay in power and win. This is what happened to Niko who was betrayed from within SODELPA.”
• Questions sent to Mr Duru, SODELPA leader Viliame Gavoka and Fiji Sun acting publisher Rosi Doviverata on the claims by Ro Filipe remained unanswered when this edition went to press.
