Savenaca Narube, leader of the Unity Fiji Party and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, has urged the government to address its internal issues. He stated that rumors of factions within the government or Cabinet planning to form a new political party will not resolve the leadership and economic challenges facing the nation.
This call to action from Narube follows comments from Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who acknowledged reports of divisions within his party, including members of his Cabinet looking to break away and establish a new party in 2026.
Narube emphasized that the significance lies not in the political parties themselves but in the integrity of the leadership within them. He criticized politicians who merely switch parties, likening it to changing clothes, and accused them of prioritizing their own power over the public’s welfare.
He reflected on the propensity of certain political leaders to lack core values, describing them as self-serving and warning that history is likely to repeat itself. Narube pointed out that trust has become scarce in Fijian national leadership, with citizens losing faith in those who have led the country over the past twenty years.
He further encouraged voters to be skeptical of familiar politicians in new guises and stressed the importance of using their democratic rights in the upcoming 2026 elections to oust those they deem untrustworthy. He called for the election of leaders capable of transforming the economy, alleviating poverty, lowering living costs, fostering unity among all ethnic groups, ensuring safety, and combating high-level corruption.