The second coming of Sitiveni Rabuka!

It has been 30 years since Fiji was introduced to its first coup in which Major General Sitiveni Rabuka became the “Father” of coup culture in Fiji in 1987. With every coup, the country takes four to five steps backwards, there has been three more since that year.

The second coup was in October of 1987 which was also led by Major General Rabuka, George Speight led the 2000 coup a year after Mahendra Chaudhry of the Fiji Labour Party became Fiji’s first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister. The last coup coming in 2006, lead by Fiji’s current Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama who was Commodore of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces at the time.

Since 1987, the term “coup culture” has been associated with Fijian politics and has worn down the Fijian citizens and country. It has caused immense setbacks in terms of development of the economy, infrastructure and standard of living. But i also can suggest that the mental strain and impact its has caused the people of Fiji has also been damaging.

But, is Mr Rabuka to blame for being the cause of these setbacks? No. Mr Rabuka has been a part of the problem and perhaps can be seen as the overall starter however, to say he is the main reason for the delayed development of the Fijian people and country is incorrect.

So, with all the turmoil that has happened in Fiji’s political past and the sense of nervousness with the current political scene, is Mr Rabuka the right person to lead the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) to the 2018 Fiji Elections? Mr Simi Kaitani of SODELPA Melbourne and Editor in Chief Dr Robert Wolfgramm of the Fiji Daily Post suggest that he is.

Mr Kaitani and Dr Wolfgramm are big supporters of Mr Rabuka and the SODELPA party, believing he is a “repentant Christian and truly apologetic for his actions of 87” as Dr Wolfgramm described. Mr Kaitani believes he has the full support of all major ethnic groups in the iTaukei (Indigenous Fijians) and Indo-Fijians.

Mr Rabuka has reformed his policies from being bias to the iTaukei in 87 to now being very multi-racial and inclusive of all groups. Will this be enough to win votes at the next elections? With finances and marketing being the main issues surrounding the campaign but with Mr Rabuka flying to Australia, New Zealand and U.S with the help of fundraisers and charity funding to gain votes from Fijian citizens, he does have the help of social media to help spread the parties message.

Will he be the next Prime Minister of Fiji come 2018? only time and votes will tell.