“Cabinet is Toxic”: Agovaka Hints Why Ministers Left the Manele-led Government For National Unity & Transformation (GNUT)

by Ronald Toito’ona

Even though the exact reasons for the government split are still a secret, Opposition spokesperson Peter Shanel Agovaka has given a big clue about why things fell apart.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Agovaka said the work environment inside the government became “toxic.” 

This bad atmosphere made it impossible for 12 ministers and seven other members to keep working with the Prime Minister.

“If He Walks In, I Walk Out”

Agovaka, a long-time politician, was very direct about how bad things got. He said the leaders simply couldn’t get along anymore.

“When the cabinet becomes toxic, that is a problem. We can’t work together,” Agovaka said. 

“We can’t see eye to eye. If he walks into the room, I walk out. Or if I walk into the room, he walks out. That is toxic.”

He explained that when people feel this way, the government cannot do its job. While he didn’t give specific details yet, he promised the full story would be told when Parliament meets. 

“When Parliament meets, you will hear us talk about everything,” he added.

Support is Gone

Peter Kenilorea Jr. also spoke, saying that the most important point is that the Prime Minister has lost his support. 

He argued that while every leader might have their own personal reasons for leaving, the result is the same.

“The same people who voted for him at the start are the ones leaving now,” Kenilorea said. 

“The big picture is that the Prime Minister does not have the support of the members anymore. This is the real issue.”

Kenilorea drew a sharp comparison between the current crisis and the Prime Minister’s initial election, noting the irony in the sudden demand for detailed explanations.

“When they voted in the Prime Minister, there was no press coming to say why did you vote for him. There was no reason given. It was just that he had the confidence of parliament at that time,” Kenilorea pointed out. 

“The reasons, of course, are important. But the confidence is no longer there.”

Settle it in Parliament

Both leaders believe that the “toxic” problems and the reasons for leaving will be the main topic of the next political fight, when parliament is convened..

Kenilorea said that while the public wants to know all the details, the main focus is following the law. 

He added, while the public and the press are naturally curious about the “interests” involved, the constitutional reality remains the most pressing concern. 

“You will hear more about why they resigned when Parliament meets,” he promised.

The Opposition group, which now has 28 members, says the Prime Minister is trying to stay in power even though his team has already broken apart.

[ENDS]