This is not 1987, it's 2016 and we are gearing up for change in 2018 - Rabuka

SODELPA Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka says he did not organize the party’s thanksgiving service at the Imanueli Methodist Church in Nadera on Sunday.

While responding to concerns raised by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama that Rabuka is using the Methodist Church yet again, Rabuka said that he was only invited to the church service and it was a thanksgiving service for the party leader.

Rabuka says that he had to respond to the words of welcome which is normal in a church service and he also put the word out about the party as it was a SODELPA church service.

Bainimarama has told Fijivillage that Sitiveni Rabuka never changes in using the Methodist Church and some church talatalas never change in committing the church to SODELPA.

Bainimarama says first it was the SVT and now it is SODELPA.

He says this is 1987 all over again.

Rabuka says this is not 1987, it is 2016 and they are gearing up for change in 2018.

Bainimarama says first Rabuka has to define oppression.

He says Rabuka is probably referring to the many positive government reforms which the SODELPA members do not approve as they do not want to see the positive outcomes.

Bainimarama says this is because of their racist views on all issues.

Bainimarama had repeated his comments about Rabuka, saying that no matter how many times the snake sheds its skin it will always remain a snake.

He went on to say that once a snake, always a snake.

Rabuka says he is not a snake.

Meanwhile the Methodist Church in Fiji says that the SODELPA thanksgiving service at the Imanueli Methodist Church in Nadera on Sunday was not part of its regular core worship service.

Secretary of Communications, Reverend James Bhagwan says SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka did not preach or deliver a sermon but only spoke to the congregation after the service.

He says the Methodist Church allows different groups of people to have their church service at their churches and this was no different.

Bhagwan says the thanksgiving service was not organised by the Methodist Church.