by Ronald Toito’ona
Manasseh Sogavare and Manasseh Maelanga took to a media conference today to tell the nation why they deserted the Jeremiah Manele-led Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) in a move that shocked the nation, Monday.
“The GNUT coalition started its journey on a very shaky ground right from the start,” Sogavare, who was Finance minister until he resigned Monday, said.
“Critical signs of instability were ignored by the Prime Minister (Manele),” he added.
“….that surprisingly did not bother the leadership of the government. I think that he had the assumption that things would iron themselves out. That’s not how you deal with issues.”
Sogavare, who was prime minister on four occasions, said they moved out of the GNUT government because they deplore what he described as “a laissez-faire attitude of the leadership towards serious issues, which undermines all the good intentions of the government”.
One of those issues, he said, centered on the leadership of Bradley Smokey Rodo Tovosia, who was deputy prime minister until Monday when he was forced to resign.
“The resignation of the Minister of Mines and the Deputy Prime Minister, who is at the heart of all of this, is a testament to the concern that members of the GNUT coalition have—not just 10 of us, but the entire group,” he added.
According to Sogavare, many in the coalition were increasingly disillusioned by what he called “hypocrisy and protection of our very narrow-gripped leaders”.
He also noted the seriousness of their decision.
“We have not taken these actions very lightly and carelessly. No.”
Sogavare then pointed to what he described as “repeated inaction” by Prime Minister Manele in responding to internal concerns—especially regarding Tovosia’s conduct.
“Every concern of every member of Parliament has been pointed at him (DPM),” he said.
“The Prime Minister was fully aware. And as the leader of the coalition, we were expecting him to take leadership in addressing our issues.”
“By adopting a very laissez-faire attitude to the issues causing instability, he has intentionally allowed the government to collapse. For that, he must take full responsibility,” Sogavare said..
Former Minister for Infrastructure Development (MID) and East Malaita MP, Manasseh Maelanga also spoke on why he decided to leave the GNUT government.
“We moved because we saw things going wrong,” Maelanga claimed.
He revealed that concerns about Tovosia’s conduct had been raised repeatedly with Prime Minister Manele.
A formal petition—signed by nearly half the government side, including members of the People’s First Party—was also submitted, but no action was taken.
“We stayed quiet for some time, watching. But we could not stay silent any longer,” he said.
Maelanga emphasized that the decision to resign was not made lightly.
“Resigning from ministerial portfolios is not easy.
“It’s a difficult decision,” he added.
After leaving GNUT, Sogavare and Maelanga walked straight to the Opposition and Independent Group in Parliament.
They now have a majority of ’26 members’ and are looking forward to taking over the Government next Tuesday.
Gordon Darcy Lilo, himself a former prime minister and currently MP for Central Honiara, has been given the task to move the no-confidence motion.
Sogavare said if he is offered the prime minister’s job by the new coalition, he would happily take it up.
Opposition leader Matthew Wale is expected to hold a press conference tomorrow. Prime Minister Manele will also host the media this week on a day yet to be announced.