Vijay Narayan calls it a shocking move – the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, seizing control of the Fiji National University from his Education Minister, Aseri Radrodro, in a manner that breaches all convention and has plunged the Coalition into yet another crisis.
Yet more shocking are reports of what has evidently triggered the move – that Aseri Radrodro tried to use his influence with the University to remove his former wife who works there, the Prime Minister’s daughter who Radrodro beat to within an inch of her life in a domestic violence incident more than a decade ago for which he has never been brought to account.
That incident has been well covered in these columns over the years – Sitiveni Rabuka arriving at the Radrodro family home and having to break in to find his daughter with life threatening injuries inflicted by the man who is now Education Minister because he happens to be SODELPA leader and Rabuka needed him as part of the Coalition that delivered him power.
Well, guess what, Fiji. He doesn’t need him anymore with the defection of a large number of former FijiFirst MPs to the ranks of the government. And Sitiveni Rabuka has thrown down the gauntlet to Radrodro and to SODELPA as a whole, daring them to take him on. Because if they do, he can dispense with the Party altogether and still remain in power.
It is an astonishing development with major implications and the circumstances still aren’t entirely clear. But Grubsheet understands that Radrodro made the mistake of insisting that FNU sack his former wife from the position she now holds there. And when word of what was happening reached the PM, he triggered the nuclear option.
All this is still to be officially confirmed. But this is story that is breaking like a thunderclap over political circles in Suva. The Prime Minister is in New Zealand having an surgery on his knee and we are awaiting further details. But unless Radrodro backs down, it could be the end of SODELPA’s participation in the Coalition, with all that entails for national stability in the lead-up to the coming election.
More details to come. And IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION OR CAN CLARIFY WHAT HAS HAPPENED, PLEASE TELL US IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
We already have an alternative narrative in the comments section from someone who is obviously close to the action. So read on…
UPDATE: 1830 Fiji time:
UPDATE 2250 Fiji time:
Whatever the background – former son-in-law beating the daughter to within an inch of her death, SODELPA being used to form the coalition government, SODELPA not needed any longer, etc,etc, – this is another case of making up the law as one goes at their whim to suit the purpose at the time.
This is not democracy, this is another case of the bastards and f*ckwits doing as they please and the people especially the prominent lawyers and the self-serving prominent whores and prostitutes (male and female) all over the country sitting back and saying and doing nothing.
These things piss me off big time.
if your reporting is accurate, what is shocking is Radrodro never learnt from his last experience when he had to beg for his job back from the Prime Minister. He’s making the same mistake again.
Which shows that he has no political acumen let alone common sense. Which brings into question his suitability as a leader of SODELPA not to mention his fitness to be the education minister. He seems immature.
Going after his ex-wife is so stupid. All it has done is risk his position, and also once again reminded Fiji of the despicable act he committed against his ex-wife, which really is unforgivable, but he clearly has no remorse whatsoever for nearly killing her.
I’m not a Rabuka fan, but even less of a Radrodro fan. Radrodro is the greater of two evils. I hope Rabuka grows the balls to sack Radrodro and put an end to this circus once and for all.
The sacking – no pun intended, considering all the sacking in room 233- just might happen-balls and all.
Drodro might have overreacted and overreacted, trying to interfere in staffing matters involving kaivata and vuvale of the old Sona Snake.
Moreover, drodro seems to have forgotten his shield and defender. The old ex-criminal chief is now dead, and there is no one to hold a dagger to Sona Snake’s throat as before should drodro be sacked again. No more yellow cards.
Vaaaark indeed.
Sorry GS- to correct:
*overreacted and over reached
Vaark auto correct.
So how come, everyone knows about Radrodro beating Rabuka’s daughter to within an inch of her death, everyone knows about the pedo President impregnating a special needs young girl under his care and they both hold high office.
Is that a traditional and cultural thing that the vulagi will never undertsand?
The prevailing sentiment about the pedo prez is summed up thus: “Since you feel so strongly about it, why not take it the police yourself, keyboard warrior?”
Same reasoning applies to all criminals in this government – the hard core suppotas say, so what? Take it to the police yourself.
In other words, a hidden threat of a severe reprisal in store against anyone who dare file a police complaint of any chiefly crime and transgression.
The complainants will be arrested and taken to task while tudravu dines at Kung Fu-Gang’s table.
Hi GD. No that’s incorrect .
Let me post what someone inside FNU posted . You know me and know that I wouldn’t create any fibs . Aseri may be an idiot but the claims he wanted the mother of his kids sacked is incorrect .
Here is what happened ….
This move to shift Fiji National University under the Prime Minister’s Office did not come out of nowhere. It did not start with “national alignment” or “capacity building”. It started with an internal power struggle at FNU, and more specifically, a struggle between PAP confidants.
For those who did not know, the cracks at FNU have been there for some time. Members of the FNU Council were openly divided, and allegations of corruption and governance failures were being levelled at the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba. These were not whispers from outside but were complaints coming from within the governing body itself.
Those Council members approached the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, asking him to step in. To his credit, and consistent with his reputation, the Minister refused to interfere politically. He advised them to follow due process and allow the Vice-Chancellor to defend herself. That decision did not sit well with everyone.
It is also worth recalling that some of these same FNU Council figures were earlier linked, politically, to the pressure that saw Radrodro removed as Minister for Education in January 2024. That episode is part of the same continuum of influence, power, and access that has now culminated in this extraordinary intervention.
With pressure mounting and her authority under challenge, the Vice-Chancellor is alleged to have taken her case directly to the Prime Minister. Around the same time, allegations began circulating about senior promotions involving close relatives of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, including his daughter and sister. No court has ruled on this. No official findings have been released. But in governance terms, perception alone is damaging enough.
Then came the decisive move. A verbal instruction from the Prime Minister.
Policy directives issued after the fact.
Cabinet approval still pending.
The FNU Council told to put everything on hold.The statutory Minister for Education effectively sidelined.
And just like that, FNU was removed from the Ministry of Education and placed under the Prime Minister’s Office, via Strategic Planning.
If this was about transparency, accountability, or cleaning up governance, the Council would have been strengthened, not suspended. If this was about legality, the FNU Act would not be treated as optional. If this was about independence, the university would not be pulled closer to the centre of political power.
Instead, what we are seeing is executive centralisation at a moment of institutional vulnerability.
Universities are not ministries. They are not political shelters. They are meant to be governed by law, statute, and independent oversight, not by verbal directives and backroom alignments.The unanswered questions remain glaring:
– Why override the FNU Act?
– Why act before Cabinet approval?
– Why silence the FNU Council mid-process?
And why does every road in this story seem to lead back to political proximity?
And until those in authority explain, clearly and publicly, the legal basis and the real motivations behind this move, the public is entitled to remain sceptical.
Vinaka vakalevu for this. My information came from a source close to the very top of the establishment. It doesn’t make what you say wrong, nor do I want to completely disregard what I’ve been told at this stage, even if it isn’t the full story.
There is clearly a more complex backstory which hopefully will be revealed at a higher level. But I notice that the Prime Minister’s daughter is mentioned in your own account, which tends to suggest she may at least be a factor in what has happened.
It doesn’t alter the fact that the Prime Minister has triggered a showdown with the Minister, with ramifications not only for his position but the Coalition with SODELPA. And it is irrespective of the fact that Radrodro is the father of his grandchildren.
If I was Rabuka, I’d want to offload Aseri Radrodro and SODELPA before the election campaign so that they don’t contest it with the benefit of incumbency. No ministerial titles, no vehicles etc, just ordinary MPs, again to reinforce his political advantage.
I don’t think it is any coincidence that Rabuka’s choice of Acting FICAC Commissioner has also gone after Manoa Kamikamica and Biman Prasad. Rabuka wants the decks cleared so his leadership of the PAP is unquestioned and there are no rivals in his way when he goes to the nation head to head with the new People’s First and whoever else emerges.
He will be hoping that iTaukei voters choose him and the PAP and that Aseri and SODELPA don’t make the 5 per cent threshold, just as he hopes the NFP won’t make the 5 per cent threshold. These two parties and their leaders are no longer his partners but adversaries competing for the same votes come election day.
Interesting times. Again, many thanks for your insights. And please keep the flow of information coming.
Bro the issue actually started last year . When complaints were raised against Dr Una influencing the promotion of people like Karen Lobendhan. Yea related to the PAP candidate ! So staff from FNU raised complaints to the FNU Council and to the Minister for Education. Minister directed investigations be carried out by the Council. Turns out Dr Una had hired so many people not following procedures .
Once investigations into her started – she promoted the PMs daughter whose Aseri’s ex wife and also PMs sister whose a staff at FNU. She soon began to invite Rabuka to FNU events .
By the time the PAP Council members started demanding for her suspension – which occurred last Friday – she raised the issue to PM. Before that she suggested that FNU be moved under the PM as per a model adopted in Singapore where the national university was aligned under the PM.
Anyway that’s where we are now GD! Corruption and nepotism is rife !
Rabuka claimed Bainimarama gave an ultra virus directive to Qilio in the USP saga which landed them both in prison !
Same issue here ! PM acting outside of his powers to protect Dr Una and indirectly protect his daughter and his sister !!
Whoever gave the story of Aseri wanting to sack his ex wife is incorrect . Aseri has no powers and has no desire to get himself muddied in the FNU issue ! It’s elections year and he won’t be silly to do such a useless stunt that gets no positive traction
“Won’t be so silly?” I’m afraid his track record shows a notable lack of judgment at various stages of his career. Not least to almost kill his then wife and later, his antics with Lynda Tabuya in Room 233. It’s a miracle that he has managed to get as far as he has.
As I said, given the stature of the source of my original story, let’s wait and see.
I can confirm that Rabuka’s sister, a person with NIL teaching experience, NIL academic experience and only laboratory experience, that too in Fiji (NOT research despite her being a PhD graduate) was elevated to Head of School. Her subordinates are veterans with decades of teaching, research, leadership and international experience. This absurdity can only flourish under Rabuka’s undue influence. If PAP Fight is correct (and I have no doubt that they are), then Aseri may have just had the rug swept from under his feet.
I don’t know the man, but I can vouch that the with the usurping of Radrodro’s legal oversight over the FNU, the end of what little institutional integrity it had/ has, has begun.
I can concur with this. Bale, Rabuka’s sister is toxic and under qualified. She purported to be an environmental scientist at Institute of Applied Sciences with no phd. I see that she is still getting away with the con job. The only hard work she did was poison professional relationships at USP and systemstically remove indo-fijians through her influence.
Scandal after scandal. This will be the legacy of this Govt. All wrong here on this FNU issue:
1. Rabakau can’t takeover FNU at his whim. Change the law first. Peni Sikivou is a bush lawyer.
2. The FNU Council and Karavaki can’t interfere in operations of FNU. VC runs the show in all appointments. Council shouldn’t do VC’s job. It’s a governance issue.
3. FNU Council should appoint an acting VC to investigate any complaints on current VC.
4. Peni Sikivou is completely wrong to quote Constitution when FNU Act enacted within the Constitution states Minister for Education controlls FNU.
5. Radrodro should back off in sacking his ex wife from FNU. That is too low. Why you keeping grudges against your ex wife, bro?
Statement By Premila Kumar
Prime Minister Rabuka’s Illegal Takeover of #FNU Is an Attack on the Rule of Law
Reports by #FijiVillage say Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has verbally ordered that Fiji National University (FNU) be taken away from the Education Minister, Hon. Aseri Radrodro, and placed under the Prime Minister’s Office through the Ministry of Strategic Planning. This is not how a country should be run. It is illegal. Rabuka must understand this is not 1987 where he abused the rule of law.
The Fiji National University Act is very clear. FNU falls under the Minister responsible for tertiary education. Right now, that minister is Aseri Radrodro. The Prime Minister cannot change this just by giving a verbal order. Only Parliament can change the law. No one, not even the Prime Minister, is above an Act of Parliament.
This move shows disrespect for the law and for Parliament. It reminds people of the old days when leaders ruled by decree instead of following the Constitution. That is an abuse of power. The Prime Minister swore to uphold the law, not ignore it when it suits him.
If the Prime Minister has problems with how FNU is being run, there are legal ways to deal with it. He could take over the Education portfolio properly, reshuffle ministers, order an investigation, or change the law through Parliament.
Instead, he chose to issue a verbal instruction with no legal basis. That creates confusion and weakens accountability.
The consequences are serious.
• FNU Chancellor who would not know who to legally report to since the Chancellor reports directly to the Minister responsible for Education.
• Decisions made under this arrangement could be challenged and overturned in court.
• Any legal costs will be paid by taxpayers, not the Prime Minister.
This is not a small mistake. It is a clear grab for power that puts public institutions at risk and weakens #Fiji’s democracy.
Prime Minister must immediately withdraw this unlawful action, clarify the situation, and either reverse the decision or take it to Parliament properly. Anything less shows disregard for the rule of law.
Fiji’s democracy requires Prime Minister to respect the law, and not rule by personal command. Unfortunately on this issue, the Prime Minister has failed that basic test.
Thank you. Covered in detail in our next article.