Is Mick Beddoes back in SODELPA fold?
He is part of an interesting lineup of personalities who will appear with Opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa at a talanoa session at Navulo Methodist Church hall in Naulu near Nausori on Wednesday night. The others are Peter Waqavonovono, popular musician/singer Laisa Vulakoro and rugby league player Jone Wesele.
Mr Beddoes, and Mr Waqavonovo had quit SODELPA in protest against the appointment of Sitiveni Rabuka as the new party leader, replacing Ro Teimumu. They joined HOPE party. Mr Waqavonovono has since returned to SODELPA but this is the first time, BTL understands, that Mr Beddoes will be seen in public on the political stage with Ro Teimumu since his defection.
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He was and looks like he still is Ro Teimumu’s speech writer, close confidante and adviser. He was the senior administration officer in the Opposition Office.
Ro Teimumu in top gear
Opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has moved to top gear in her campaign. She has gone with her trusted and loyal supporters like Mick Beddoes and Peter Waqavonovono.
She has also secured star power support like famous singer Laisa Vulakoro and rugby league player Jone Wesele.
She not only wants to get back in Parliament under her own steam, she aims to prove that she still has the same support that she received in 2014.
If she succeeds it would strengthen her camp’s bid to have her regain the party leadership she was forced by a party constitutional change to give up to Mr Rabuka.
There is a strong push by the Vanua Levu bloc to have Mr Rabuka keep the leadership. In the event of him losing it because of his court case, the bloc wants party president and Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, become party leader.
HOPE’s future
With pioneering members like Mick Beddoes and Peter Waqavonovono aligning themselves with Ro Teimumu Kepa, does this mean that HOPE is losing key people and weakening?
It does not look like it because recent Sun News Poll results showed that HOPE, despite its late arrival on the scene, is actually doing better than Unity Fiji and on the same par with the Fiji Labour Party.
Feedback: maikab@fijisun.com.fj
