Rabuka mulls over 2014 election bid

Former Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is contemplating to contest in the 2014 general elections.

Rabuka revealed this at the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum workshop in Suva last week with a theme ‘Fiji Together- Addressing Inclusivity in Constitution Making’.

“I would come back to tell the people in Fiji that there is hope for us to be together as one,” he said.

Rabuka said a leader must have the abilities to lead which he defined as someone hard working, has the confidence of the electorates, be a role model, and must have ‘mana’.

He said if leaders have this, people will have confidence in them.

“If someone does not have the ability in charisma or ‘mana’, then he cannot be a good leader.”

Unfortunately, he said many leaders in Fiji have been colored by the coup.

“The removal of the aspect of traditional leadership has affected respect for the traditional tribal system.”

Nowaday, he said leaders have evolved from strong leaders to a weak one.

Rabuka said there is a need for prerogative traditional leaders to be replaced by meritorious chiefs, people who are elected by the tribe.

“This leader should function alongside elected members of the tribunal.”

He said people need to contribute as well in order to make a law.

Rabuka is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987.
 
He was later democratically elected the third Prime Minister, serving from 1992 to 1999.

He later served as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, and is currently Chairman of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council, a position he has held since 24 May 2001.
 
By Ropate Valemei