BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Gordon Darcy Lilo says the Opposition now stands with 25 MPs in light of the motion of no confidence filed against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.
Mr Lilo, MP for Central Honiara, yesterday filed notice for the motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Manele.
Ten government MPs also resigned yesterday, led by former finance minister Manasseh Sogavare.
These 10 MPs are reportedly members of OUR Party, government’s largest coalition partner. Mr Sogavare is OUR Party’s parliamentary wing leader.
Speaking to the paper last night, Lilo refuted claims that some members of opposition were meeting with government to switch over following yesterday’s mass resignation.
“No, we are solid. We are solid. We have the majority as it stands with our 25 MPs. We are solid together and no one’s moving anywhere,” Lilo said.
One of the government ministers who resigned yesterday also told Island Sun that ‘more government MPs will follow’.
“I cannot say exactly how many, but several colleague MPs from government will resign in the coming days and join us as we create a new government to lead our country out of the mess we are in,” the MP, who asked not to be named, said.
The MPs who resigned yesterday had reportedly cited their reasons being disagreements with the leadership of prime minister Manele and that of his deputy, Mines Minister Bradley Tovosia.
However, later yesterday Mr Tovosia resigned from both portfolios – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mines and Energy.
In a media statement yesterday, the Prime Minister’s press secretariat said Tovosia had resigned before cabinet and still remains with the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).
Confirming the filed notice for the motion of no-confidence, Clerk to Parliament Jefferson Hally yesterday told Island Sun the notice should mature on Monday next week, fulfilling the seven days requirement by parliament standing orders.
“The motion can be moved from Tuesday 6th onwards,” Mr Hallu said.
Last year, Lilo moved Prime Minister Manele’s first motion of no-confidence, which he filed on December 5.
He was forced to withdraw it on the floor of parliament on December 13 after government MPs who had initially supported the motion reneged in the eleventh hour.
Lilo is a former prime minister. He was PM from 2011 – 2014.
