Former Minister of Finance and Treasury, Manasseh Sogavare, has dismissed claims he resigned to contest the Prime Minister’s (PM) seat.
Sogavare is among five ministers from the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) and five backbenchers who resigned on Monday.
The ministers who resigned include:
Manasseh Maelanga – Minister of Infrastructure Development (MID)
Rollen Seleso – Minister for Rural Development (MRD)
Nestor Ghiro – Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources
Freda Tuki – Minister of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs
The backbenchers are:
Claudius Tei’ifi (West Kwaio)
Stanley Sofu (East Kwaio)
William Marau (Ulawa Ugi)
James Bonuga (Temotu Pele)
Lazarus Alfred Rima (East Central Guadalcanal)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Bradley Tovosia, also tendered his resignation following a caucus meeting.
Some commentators suggested Tovosia’s resignation may be a last-ditch effort by Prime Minister Manele to hold together the fragmented GNUT coalition.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday at the Paul Tovua Complex, Sogavare said, “I never, never fought to become Prime Minister—it was simply offered to me.”
He explained that they resigned from government due to what he described as the leadership’s “laissez-faire attitude” toward serious national issues, which he said, undermined the government’s good intentions.
Sogavare also alleged there were instances of gold being smuggled out of the country.
“I am working with the Central Bank to determine how many minerals are leaving the country and how much money is coming in,” he said.
“I issued a directive that from now on, all revenue from our minerals must be returned to CBSI.
“But there are people actually carrying minerals on planes to avoid bringing money into the country.”
However, he declined to elaborate, stating the matter is under investigation.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament (MP) for East Malaita and former MID Minister Manasseh Maelanga explained he resigned because the Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele failed to act on concerns he had raised.
“I cannot just sit and watch while the Prime Minister takes no action,” he said. “I was elected to serve the people of East Malaita and this country.”
Maelanga could identify the reasons.
He added that the Prime Minister should have responded when he knew the allegations were credible but chose not to.
As the Opposition Group, Independent Group, and the resigned members form a new coalition ahead of a motion of no confidence scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, both Sogavare and Maelanga expressed confidence in their alliance.
They said, the new coalition comprises of mature leaders who will remain united despite ongoing lobbying by the government side.
Since the resignation of the five ministers, the GNUT led government is yet to replace them.
The five ministers along with some of the backbenchers are also members of OUR Party.
The new coalition group has maintained it had the command of 26 members as of opposed to the 23 who are with the Government.
Prime Minister Manele has objected the call by Opposition Leader Matthew Wale for his immediate resignation.
Instead, hee said, he will face the motion head on, come Tuesday next week.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
