BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
MANASSEH Sogavare, the caretaker prime minister and former wing leader of the OUR Party, has made it clear that he is happy not to run for the 2024 Prime Ministership race in the Solomon Islands.
Sogavare expressed satisfaction with the choice to select Jeremiah Manele as their candidate rather than him running for the Prime Minister’s office.
“I feel great about handing over the Prime Ministership to a very competent captain. I’m more than happy,’ Sogavare spoke at a news conference yesterday with Manele and other party members present. “OUR Party has entered into a coalition agreement with the People’s First Party. We have chosen Jeremiah Manele as our party’s parliamentary wing leader. With our shared goals and visions, we stand in solidarity with him.”
He said the decision to nominate the caretaker government minister of foreign affairs, Jeremiah Manele, was a collective decision aligned with the Coalition of National Unity and Transformation (CNUT) progressive plan in choosing a new leadership.
“All of us are contesting the parliament seat and not campaigning for the prime minister seat. The constitution is very clear, and when it comes to the office of Prime Minister, it’s up to the members of the coalition,” he said.
Sogavare later claimed to have been accused of numerous alleged corruptive issues, but none of these have been proven in court.
“My family, including my children, have been subjected to unprecedented verbal abuse, which has been verified by the media.
“Our family home has been razed to the ground, but that did not waver my resolve to continue serving our people.
“It has not been easy. It is a monumental commitment. But since the Lord, our God, has been our pillar of strength, courage, and comfort, we are able to protect our nation, family, and government.
“Allow me to say thank you to our country and people for the privilege and honor of serving you since 2019,” the caretaker prime minister and former wing leader of the OUR Party said.
