Rewa high chief, Ro Teimumu Kepa has confirmed that she is not a contender for the position of Fiji’s President.
Ro Teimumu in a statement said in recent weeks, she became aware that her name has been circulated as a contender for the position of President when current President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere’s term ends.
“For the record, I am not a contender for the position of President, and if my name has been proposed, then it has been done without my knowledge or consent,” she said.
“I am particularly disappointed that SODELPA General Secretary Viliame Takayawa has made statements regarding this without the courtesy of seeking my view or even discussing the matter with me before issuing any statement.”
“To what I recall, the position was initially offered by the People’s Alliance Party (PAP) during the negotiation week at the first Management Board Meeting in December 2022 following the general elections, however, there have been no further discussions since.”
She said the position of President of Fiji is an important position as it symbolises our national unity and character and it should therefore be treated with the respect that such a position deserves.
“It concerns me as Roko Tui Dreketi, that my name and title is being promoted as a challenger to our current President, the Gone Turaga Bale na Tui Macuata, His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, and such unfounded statements could easily create a perception that the current relationship between the Tui Macuata and me or between our two provinces or Vanua o Caumatalevu and Burebasaga is strained, which is not the case.”
“In fact, I believe the Turaga Bale na Tui Macuata has been doing very well since his appointment and I thought he handled the transfer of power skillfully, following the change of Government in 2022, which ensured that the will of the people and our electoral laws were upheld.”
“To avoid any doubt, I wish to place on record my full support for the Turaga Bale na Tui Macuata and his Presidency; and confirm I am not a contender for the position of President,” she further stated.
