WATI TALEBULA and
ROSI DOVIVERATA
suva
Former coup leader and later Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says that he has quit from the Social Democratic Liberal Party.
This is after a statement from the party yesterday said: “Major General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, (Ret) will not be contesting the 2014 General Elections as a SODELPA candidate. Due to recent media speculation, SODELPA also clarifies he will not be participating in the party under any official capacity, but remains a party member and staunch supporter of SODELPA. SODELPA wishes Major General Rabuka every success in his future public and private endeavors.”
Mr Rabuka said: “I understand that the SODELPA Youth Council and the Women’s Wing objected to my membership with the party. I’ve accepted the decision and I told them that women will always be the country’s conscience and the youth are the society’s future.”
Mr Rabuka explained how he joined the Ro Teimumu-led party.
“I was encouraged by the Queen Victoria School old boys to join the party when we were drafting our proposal for the Yash Ghai Commission. I just put my hands up to contribute towards nation-building.
“I had a private conversation with Laisenia Qarase so I joined the party,” Mr Rabuka said.
Mr Rabuka was being lined-up by supporters within SODELPA to be deputy leader. But when news of this leaked, there was a strong backlash by opponents within SODELPA and those who saw him as a liability, not an asset.
“I am prosecuted for my past and I thought I had cleaned it when I was the Prime Minister  from 1992-1997 but people were still holding grudges because of my past,” he said.
“There’s a saying that goes: “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”
What of his future in politics?
“I have not thought about it, but for the time being I’ll relax for a while.”

rosi.doviverata@fijisun.com.fj