Imagine the scene last night in the homes of the 17 FijiFirst MPs who have been expelled from the parliament for defying a party directive not to vote to enrich themselves with increased salaries and benefits – in the case of Inia Seruiratu, the parliamentary leader, an $80,000 salary hike plus a house.
Imagine the tears, the gnashing of teeth, the “how could yous”, the utter despair of families accustomed to the good life suddenly having no income (though in Seruiratu’s case, his wife is the highly regarded RFMF officer, Colonel Litea Seruiratu). But no new house for them now.
As someone who worked closely with Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum for more than six years, I am still shaking my head in utter astonishment at the folly of the 16 who defied the party directive and the 17th, Alvick Maharaj, who has lost his seat evidently for having been on the Emoluments Committee and not casting a dissenting vote.
It is especially gobsmacking in the case of the former military officers who defied the directive – Inia Seruiratu – now the ex-opposition leader – Viliame Naupoto – the former RFMF Commander – and the two other respected military men – Ioane Naivalurua and Semi Korolavisau.
All four took part in Frank Bainimarama’s “clean-up” campaign in the coup of 2006 and must have known one thing about their former commander and now jailed ousted prime minister. The main thing Voreqe insists on is loyalty. And when a directive is issued in his name , he expects it to be obeyed. So what on earth possessed them to defy him?
The same goes for Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who remains the real power in FijiFirst. He is utterly ruthless. As the many thousands who have worked for him in government over the years can attest, when he wants something done, he expects it to be done. The power dynamic between Bainimarama and Khaiyum is that Khaiyum has never done anything before clearing it with his leader. They are in constant contact on Viber. And the relationship is one of deference on Khaiyum’s part.
So when Faiyaz Koya – who has formally replaced Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum as FijiFirst General Secretary while continuing to take orders from his patron – issued the directive last week for FijiFirst MPs to vote down the emoluments increases, it was in everything other than name, an order from the top – from Frank Bainimarama as Party leader.
It beggars belief that the four military officers who unquestioningly followed their “commander” through the 2006 coup and played major roles in the “new order” he imposed should have disobeyed him. The burning question is why? Did they assume that now he is in prison, they were no longer obliged to take instructions from him? Were they testing Frank and Aiyaz’s resolve? Or did greed and avarice take over and they simply couldn’t resist going for the money?
Whatever the answer – and the mainstream media should grill them on this – they and the civilian MPs who have been politically executed brought FijiFirst into disrepute, brought themselves into disrepute and are at the centre of a national storm in which there is no justification whatsoever for what they did or any other MP did in voting for this obscene package.
Jone Usamate is in today’s papers questioning the legality of what happened. For God’s sake, Jone, it is all there in black and white. As Grubsheet reported days ago, the FijiFirst Constitution stipulates that members of the party must follow orders. And the national constitution says that all the party has to do is inform the Speaker of the parliament that an order has been disobeyed and he has no choice but to remove the offender. It is the L-A-W. And the wonder of it is that these idiots either didn’t know the law or simply chose to ignore it in their clamber to get to the moolah.
They can go to the Court of Disputed Returns but as Grubsheet understands it, they have no plausible legal argument to have their expulsions overturned. And the tragedy is that a lot of good people have suddenly been lost to public life because of their hubris or ignorance or both. Some of them, of course, may reappear as candidates down the track for other parties. But they are gone from FijiFirst. And, frankly, it serves them bloody well right.
Seriously. What did they expect? Frank Bainimarama might be down but he is not out. And as leader of FijiFirst, he is still firmly in control. And Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has now managed to rid the party of all of the former RFMF officers who might have got in his way and has a bunch of civilians who have been given a shock lesson in what happens if you cross him.
Apart from the inconvenient little matter of a potential jail sentence, the path is now also a lot clearer for Aiyaz to make a comeback and eventually fulfil his ambition to lead. The cat that got the cream. And in a saucer handed to him by normally sensible people blinded by stupidity and greed.
What the FijiFirst Constitution says:
And this is what the 2013 Constitution says, underlined by Grubsheet’s resident advisor on these things.
Which bit did these idiots not understand?
Abhi toh party shuru huwiye.
The party has just started.
Rabuka should learn what LEADERSHIP looks like.
He has no control of anyone in Coalition.
This is why FF was held in regard because they kept their ship watertight and everyone knew to stay disciplined.
Look at the country now.
Police raping woman inside the station.
Police stealing drugs.
It’s a mess.
Inia became too cosy.
They were voted to uphold values, integrity, and hold the bastards on the other side accountable.
This was their moment to shine.
But no.
They decided it was their moment to be corrupt like the Coalition.
In this case, they defied the faith that FF voters hold.
Dumb.
17! Gone. Allin one go.
Rabuka cannot even get rid of one Kadavu sl%t in Parliament who has been running wild from the beginning.
Learn how leadership works, Rabuka. This is how you get rid of Tabuya. Her popularity is gone already. Now act.
They were idiots from day one
Lave liqa squad
Only their family and friends voted for them, that’s the reason they had few hundred votes each
Isa Inia
He won’t be able to hear the smile
His picture tells the story
No smiling,lips closed
Thankful is my immediate reaction, finally principle triumphs over ego in the halls of power in this nation.
But the real culprits remain on the other side of the house: the snake, Bainann and Co.
As they used to say in rugby commentaries: “Over to You, Grahame. Now it’s, “Over to you, Mr President, “ Time to red card the whole bunch of them.
Honour and respect bank must be restored to the governance of this country, turf all of them out onto the street where they came from and call for fresh elections.
We need a new breed of selfless hard working leaders
There wasn’t a proper democracy in last 16 years and there isn’t one today
Once Bainimarama said people of Fiji are dumb
He was right.
Beginning with him, eh?
It is suprising to note everyone has gone quiet in last few days
Where are those Lawyers and Fiji Law Society
NGO’s
Prominent people, who were commentators of the government
All disappeared
This is a national issue
Is there a storm coming?
Usually it gets calm before a storm
Idiots indeed
The question Graham is, will Inia take this humiliation sitting down and do nothing about it?
What do you see as his revenge strategy in the short term or does he wait this out and join PAP or NFP and take on Aiyaz and Frank in 2026 election or sooner if a snap election is called.
Rabuka now holds the trump card in that Frank is behind bars, Aiyaz somewhat out of the picture and dealing with his own legal issues, Rambo might see an opportunity to go to the polls for a majority mandate when FFP is really leaderless. Fijians will never support FFP with Aiyaz as the leader perhaps he will get some marginal support from Indians
Yes Rabuka has his own problems in terms of chaos and poor leadership and of course the pay increase debacle. Maybe NFP now has an opening ? or perhaps a Chaudhry comeback ( highly unlikely as his political fortunes and political capital all used up)
Interesting times ahead but all this will affect investor confidence, investors don’t like instability.
This is how a government should work and this is why Fiji First rightfully deserves the support of all Fijians to lead the country. The party and its members have put Fiji First!! That’s right, it’s about the 900,000 people and not the 40.
I don’t care about the politics behind it or who has the power especially if they are doing the right thing by the people of Fiji.
Integrity integrity integrity!!
Rabuka and his weak leadership with weaklings in PAP are not even an iota near to what First First has been and is capable off!
Hats off to Fiji First for dropping the axe on the 17 – your actions prove no one is immune if they don’t toe the line and are not aligned to party’s values this is what happens!
Watch and learn Rambo – this is what decisive leadership looks like. Not mockery of leadership under you nor divide and rule under your leadership! You deserve to get the boot and so does the three-legged stool.
People of this country deserve better!
In other matters why are the President, Commander, Law Society, Richard Naidu, Shamima Ali, Imrana Jalal’s etc so so quiet?
Well folks, you be the judge of the objectivity or lack of it of these people.
As Drua Kemu Valetini had said, in response to public demands for his inclusion in the 2023 RWC Flying Fijians squad, “follow the process*. So FF followed the process whereas the Coalition habitually violates it.
While Parliament is an AFZ – Aiyaz Free Zone – he is still very much influential and in control especially now with Frank “inside”.
The curse of Greed comes before Governance prevails. The 17 lost the opportunity to bring back proper governance to Fiji simply because of their greed.
Barring the possibility of an intervention from the President or the Force that he is Commander in Chief of, let us hope that the new FF 17 will be selfless and will serve with integrity. Their first test will be their response to the Budget next month. A special plea to Selai then, please do not spoil the party!
Bonking & Weeding Minister is now clearly untouchable (plus her mate too at Education). So who knows, someone other than Biman could be the focus of attention come Budget Day.
News flash:
1. Letter delivering decision to terminate now invalid as the co-signer is serving time and is technically disqualified from any form of political party involvement.
2. They might have to call for an AGM to reappoint a replacement. This will be their very first in 16yrs like “ever”. Buuuut standby for fireworks coz the 17 are now a voting block disgusted that Inia was sidelined from the last supposed leadership group meeting.
3. Imagine that this always used to happen in the last 16yrs without as much of a boo or hoo now 17 have grown a pair and challenging the 2.
4. Their implosion is good for everyone….period!!!
Lori aweh