by Ronald Toito’ona

Member of Parliament for Central Honiara, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has dismissed recent rumours suggesting he was offered the Prime Minister’s position, and denied a newspaper report in the Solomon Star naming him as a potential Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination.

Lilo, who is also the mover of next Tuesday’s motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, firmly refuted the claims and cautioned the public against relying on unverified or misleading information.

When asked about the rumour that the government had offered him the Prime Minister’s role, Lilo made his position clear.

“…..as a person moving that motion, that situation will never happen. I think I am the last person to be offered the PM’s position, being the very person that moved the motion.”

He also clarified the Solomon Star article that purportedly named him as the candidate for Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination.

Lilo emphasized that such reports are baseless and reminded everyone about fake news.

“The only media statement from the grouping is what I am doing now. There won’t be any other media statements, or if you are going to raise some issues in the media, then we will respond. 

“So, those assessments that came out in the newspaper, we are not aware of.

“I don’t know where that came out from. So don’t feed yourself from that kind of news,” the former Prime Minister said.

He went on to warn that the unfounded reports might be part of a deliberate propaganda tool or strategy intended to mislead and dissuade the public during this critical period of political turmoil.